Systems and methods for advanced energy settlements, network-based messaging, and applications supporting the same on a blockchain platform

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for financial settlement of transactions within an electric power grid network are disclosed. A multiplicity of active grid elements are constructed and configured for electric connection and network-based communication over a blockchain-based platform. The multiplicity of active grid elements are operable to make peer-to-peer transactions based on their participation within the electric power grid by generating and executing a digital contract. The multiplicity of active grid elements generate messages autonomously and/or automatically within a predetermined time interval. The messages comprise energy related data and settlement related data. The energy related data of the multiplicity of active grid elements are based on measurement and verification. The energy related data and the settlement related data are validated and recorded on a distributed ledger with a time stamp and a geodetic reference.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority from the following U.S.patent applications. This application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/111,071, filed Dec. 3, 2020, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/670,903, filed Aug.7, 2017 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,861,112, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/518,412,filed Oct. 20, 2014 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,740,227, acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/644,080,filed Jul. 7, 2017 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,497,073, acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/918,840,filed Oct. 21, 2015 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,311,416, and acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/273,088,filed Sep. 22, 2016 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,475,138. U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/518,412 is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/290,598, filed May 29, 2014 and issued as U.S.Pat. No. 8,983,669, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/563,535, filed Jul. 31, 2012 and issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,513,648. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/644,080 is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/610,181, filed Jan.30, 2015 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,704,206, which is a continuationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/292,418, filed May 30, 2014 andissued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,996,419, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/193,600, filed Feb. 28, 2014 and issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 8,775,283, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/050,325, filed Oct. 9, 2013 and issued as U.S.Pat. No. 8,706,583, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/746,703, filed Jan. 22, 2013 and issued as U.S. Pat. No.8,583,520, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/659,564, filed Oct. 24, 2012 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,849,715.U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/918,840 claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/067,180, filed Oct. 22, 2014. U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/273,088 claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/222,470, filed Sep. 23, 2015. Eachof the above-mentioned applications are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to electric power messaging, dataaggregation, data formatting, digital contracts and settlements, andmore particularly, to advanced energy settlements, contracts, messaging,and applications for electric power supply, load, and/or curtailment anddata analytics associated with the same.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Generally, it is known in the prior art to provide electric powersystems management including financial settlements and messaging.However, limited information is available to electric power consumersregarding their past, present, and future projected use of power withsufficient details to make informed choices about types of power supplyand pricing alternatives. The lack of data is resulted from how the datais collected, who controls the data, and how the data is presented forchoices and used for taking actions by an end user. Electric powersupply data, power consumption data, market data, capacity, andtransmission rights are not generally known by consumers/end users.Furthermore, retail electric providers (REPs) in prior art systems andmethods have no access to data and analytics to provide optimal pricingfor power supply to business and/or residential electricity customers,and do not have the ability to provide advanced energy settlements toprovide the lowest pricing for power supplied at predetermined times,due at least in part to costs associated with obtaining power agreementswithout visibility to the data and analytics that provides reduced riskof capital and performance associated with the supply and demand sides.Emerging technologies such as blockchain technologies hold promise forsolving some of these problems. However, Blockchain as a technology isevolving and the ability to present actionable data to consumers/endusers and the market are rudimentary. Different blockchain technologieswill emerge over time much in the same way that Internet browsingtechnologies and browsers did over time.

Examples of prior art documents include the following:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,978,931 for Energy credit card system by inventorBrobeck issued Dec. 27, 2005 describes a method of providing an energycredit system for providing redeemable energy or mass transit credits toconsumers who contribute power to a shared electric power grid, whereinat least some of the consumers have their own local renewable energysource connected to the power grid including the steps of measuring theexcess power generated by each consumer's energy source that is fed intothe electric power grid, awarding energy credits to each of theconsumers in relation to the excess power contributed to the electricpower grid by the consumer, allowing each consumer receiving the energycredits to redeem them by acquiring fuel, power, or mass transit ticketsfrom a fuel or power provider or mass transit system, and requiring theoperator of the electric power grid to compensate the fuel for energyprovided or mass transit system in direct relation to the energy creditsredeemed by each consumer. Additionally, it claims recording the creditsat an energy brokerage house, requiring the operator of the power gridto compensate the brokerage house for the expenses generated by theconsumers, and allowing the brokerage house to retain as profit aportion of the compensation received from the operator of the powergrid. See also, US Patent Application Publication No. 20040206813.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,900,556 by Provanzana, and assigned on the face of thepatent to American Electric Power Company, Inc., for Power load-levelingsystem and packet electrical storage issued May 31, 2005, describing alarge-scale, capacitor-based electrical energy storage and distributionsystem capable of effectuating load-leveling during periods of peakdemand and a cost savings associated with the purchase of electricalenergy; and disclosing a method of storing and distributing electricalenergy to achieve a cost savings associated with the purchase thereofincluding the steps of providing a source of electrical energy,providing at least one electrical energy storage capacitor capable ofstoring a significant amount of energy, the capacitor in communicationwith the source, providing control equipment adapted to analyze andmonitor the real-time cost of purchasing electrical energy from thesource and to predict a future cost, supplying an amount of electricalenergy to the capacitor to charge it in response to a charge signal fromcontrol equipment, discharging at least a portion of the stored energyto a load, and repeating to maximize cost savings; also disclosingdeducting the value of the electrical energy sold back to the source forany costs of purchasing energy from the source. See also US PatentApplication Pub. No. 20030160595.

US Patent Application Pub. No. 20090177548 for Cooperative environmentaland life benefit exchange system by Eisnlohr filed Jan. 9, 2009 andpublished Jul. 9, 2009 describing a cooperative environmental and lifebenefit system including a grid transmitting available energy, aplurality of rate payers using energy generated from available energysources, a plurality of utility companies providing the grid, aplurality of credits redeemable for acquiring one or more of a pluralityof life benefits, and an administrator overseeing a redemption process,wherein credits are accumulated by the rate payers based on either apredetermined amount of electrical energy purchased from or sold back tothe grid; further describing the redemption process wherein creditsaccumulated by the payers are redeemed at a redemption rate to provide aredemption value, which is remitted by the rate payers to satisfybenefit cost for acquiring the benefits, or portions thereof.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,975 for Optimized energy management system by Millerand assigned to Gridpoint, Inc., issued Sep. 25, 2007 describing methodsand systems for optimizing the control of energy supply and demand,including activating battery storage and alternative energy sources tosell energy to the power grid during favorable cost conditions,including method steps for allocating energy at a location where theelectrical energy is consumed, with computer-implemented steps of:determining a marginal cost for each of a plurality of energy sourcesavailable at the location, at least one of which is a non-grid source ofelectricity; determining a capacity of electrical energy available fromeach non-grid energy source; determining a demand for electrical energyat the location; dynamically allocating, in order of lowest marginalcost to highest marginal cost, electrical energy capacity from each ofthe plurality of energy sources to meet the demand; reducing demand atthe location by automatically deferring electrical consumption for adevice for which consumption can be deferred from a higher-cost timeperiod to a lower-cost time period, including the computer-implementedstep of issuing a command to the device to cause the deferral to occur,and further including determining projected marginal costs in each of aplurality of future time frames and deferring electrical consumption forthe device to one of the plurality of future time frames, whileconforming to an operational constraint for the device, the operationalconstraint for the device comprising a maximum time duration for whichthe device can be switched off; further including step of determining,on the basis of time-varying cost of grid-based electrical energy,whether it is cost-effective to sell electrical energy back to agrid-based source, and if so, automatically initiating such sale; andthe step of selling electrical energy from a battery to the grid-basedsource. See also US Patent Application Pub. Nos. 20110208365,20070276547, and 20060276938.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,890,436 for Billing and payment methods and systemsenabling consumer premises equipment by Kremen and assigned to CleanPower Finance, Inc. issued Feb. 15, 2011 and describes a variety ofsystems and methods enabling renewable energy consumer premisesequipment (CPE) such as dual metering techniques, and disclosingsupporting by increasing a likelihood of meeting financing obligations,a consumer purchasing, leasing, installing, and/or maintaining renewableenergy CPE for power generation at a consumer premises; coupling the CPEto a power grid operable to receive at least a portion of the powergenerated by the CPE, measuring power generated by the CPE and deliveredonto the power grid of a utility, and processing receivables from theutility associated with the power generated and delivered onto the powergrid directly to the lender at times corresponding to power measurementto fulfill the consumer's obligation to repay the loan. See also USPatent App. Pub. Nos. 20080091625, 20080091581, 20080091626,20080091590, 20080091580.

Thus, there remains a need for improved information, controls, real-timeor near-real-time data on power consumption for electric power marketparticipants, REPs, customers, data centers, microgrid owners, andmessaging and management of financial settlement therefor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of real-time or near real-timedata for electric power messaging and settlements, and moreparticularly, to advanced energy settlements, messaging, andapplications for electric power supply, load, and/or curtailment anddata analytics associated with the same. The present invention alsocontemplates the use of blockchain technologies to solve problemsassociated with transparency, digital contracts, distributed ledgers,consensus, security, and compensation for suppliers and consumers ofelectric power in a market-based system, such as an Independent SystemOperator (ISO), an Regional Transmission Operator (RTO), a utilityservice area as defined by the National Electric Reliability Corporation(NERC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) or a governingentity responsible for establishing the regulations for the buying andselling of electric power, capacity, demand response or combinations.Systems and methods for ingress of data, aggregation of data, formattingof data, presentation of data or providing data analytics and customeror consumer guidance and controls are provided, and coupled with graphicuser interfaces for interactive control and command of grid elements,design, specification, construction, management and financial settlementfor any end user or consumer of electric power including commercial,residential, wholesale (brokers), retail electric providers, or anyentity authorized by the governing entity to conduct transactions on theelectric power grid. Furthermore, specific applications for distributedenergy resources, renewable energy, storage devices, electric vehicles,fuel cells or any supply or demand side technologies are provided indata centers and/or microgrids for military, government, business andresidence. The present invention also provides power consumptioncontrol, management, messaging and settlements, mobile applications, websites, marketing offers, optimal pricing for comparable energy plans,retail electric provider and direct consumer alternatives, network ofpower architecture, EnergyNet applications, software development kit(s),application program interfaces (APIs), service oriented architecture(SOA) also known as web services, application web-based storefronts, andcombinations thereof

The present invention provides for systems, methods, and graphic userinterface embodiments for providing electric power usage (past, current,and/or future projected) information, management, financial settlements,and messaging, and applications as described herein. In addition, thepresent invention provides for the use of blockchain technologies thatprovide for market based electric power usage (past, current, and/orfuture projected) information collection, management, tokens, financialsettlements, alternative currencies such as “crypto currencies”,distributed databases, distributed general ledgers and secure messagingdistributed amongst coordinators and data processing nodes as describedherein.

An advanced energy settlement platform is provided including at leastone server computer operable for communication over a network with amultiplicity of distributed computing devices. The platform can also beembedded into grid elements that are physically or logically attached toa power grid, a network appliance, a coordinator and combinationsthereof. The advanced energy settlement platform aggregates consumptiondata from energy customers or their grid elements associated with thecustomer that contains revenue grade and settlement information andaggregates revenue grade metrology data from distributed generationsources, demand side management devices, renewable energy sources, orconsumption data from end users/consumers into settlement blocks. Theadvanced energy settlement platform is also capable of aggregatingsupply and consumption data from larger (macro) sources of generationsuch as combined cycle natural gas, coal, nuclear, utility sizedrenewable facilities into settlement blocks. The advanced energysettlement platform further aggregates and settles distributed energycharges with distributed generators or logical settlement nodes such aselectrical buses (substations), nodal market clearing points as definedby the market and for energy consumers during the billing period througha clearing house that measures, verifies, clears, reconciles and settlesthe settlement grade or revenue grade data. The advanced energysettlement platform further aggregates and settles fixed energy changeswith the energy retailer or retail energy provider for energy customersduring the billing period.

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to systems andmethods for financial settlement of transactions within an electricpower grid network are disclosed. A multiplicity of active grid elementsare constructed and configured for electric connection and network-basedcommunication over a blockchain-based platform. Each of the multiplicityof active grid elements comprises a computing component operativelycoupled with a memory. The multiplicity of active grid elements areoperable to make peer-to-peer transactions based on their participationwithin the electric power grid by generating and executing a digitalcontract; and generate messages autonomously and/or automatically withina predetermined time interval. The messages comprise energy related dataand settlement related data. The energy related data of the multiplicityof active grid elements are based on measurement and verificationsufficient as defined by the market or grid operator. The energy relateddata and the settlement related data are validated and recorded on adistributed ledger with a time stamp and a geodetic reference. The dataalso includes attributes of the grid element, supply or demand siderelevant or important for market participation or compliance with marketrules.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art after a reading of the following description ofthe preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings, as theysupport the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an electric power grid in the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a network of power with all the participants and theEnergyNet Platform in the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates EnergyNet features in the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a network of microgrids integratedwith an EnergyNet platform.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a network of power microgridsintegrated with an EnergyNet platform.

FIG. 6 is a scheme diagram of Federated Microgrid Communities comprisingdifferent grid zones.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment showing aconfiguration for a cloud-based computing system for user interface withthe systems of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates method steps for providing advanced energysettlements (AES) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a high-level AES systemarchitecture according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary EnergyNetgateway according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a partial selection ofexemplary grid elements according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating components of the systemsand methods of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating components of the systemsand methods of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a grid application model ofthe systems and methods of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a high-level systemarchitecture for an EnergyNet embodiment according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic and flow diagram illustrating AES sequencing.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating AES evolution for thesystems and methods of the present invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates a graphic user interface screen shot for anembodiment of the present invention showing a distributed generationApp.

FIG. 19 illustrates a graphic user interface screen shot for oneembodiment of the present invention showing a microgrid control Appapplicable to data centers and/or microgrids.

FIG. 20 illustrates a graphic user interface screen shot for anembodiment of the present invention showing an AMI Head End App.

FIG. 21 illustrates a graphic user interface screen shot for anembodiment of the present invention showing an AES App.

FIG. 22 illustrates a graphic user interface screen shot for anEnergyNet application development kit for a datacenter example case.

FIG. 23 illustrates another GUI screen shot for a datacenter examplecase of FIG. 15 .

FIG. 24 illustrates another GUI screen shot for a datacenter examplecase with XML editing.

FIG. 25 illustrates another GUI screen shot for a datacenter examplecase with EnergyNet App dashboard view.

FIG. 26 illustrates another GUI screen shot for an EnergyNet App view.

FIG. 27 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for commercial building or facilities data.

FIG. 28 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for developing a profile for a building or facility.

FIG. 29 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for comparing buildings within a predetermined geographicarea.

FIG. 30 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for Apps associated with the profile and/or account inaddition to building profiles.

FIG. 31 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for automatically generated recommendations.

FIG. 32 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for service and product marketplace.

FIG. 33 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for at least one of the selected automatically generatedrecommendations.

FIG. 34 illustrates a graphic user interface screen shot for anembodiment of the present invention showing a Select a Billing Optioninteractive GUI.

FIG. 35 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for completing AES plan enrollment and showing RecommendUpgrades options for interactive selection.

FIG. 36 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet App viewfor an AES financial summary for a building.

FIG. 37 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet App viewfor an AES financial summary with additional information relating toFIG. 36 .

FIG. 38 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for REPS for AES participation.

FIG. 39 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for a featured App “Bills Near Me.”

FIG. 40 illustrate a GUI screen shot for a mobile smartphone App forelectric vehicle (EV) charging.

FIG. 41 illustrate another GUI screen shot for a mobile smartphone Appfor EV charging.

FIG. 42 illustrate another GUI screen shot for a mobile smartphone Appfor EV charging.

FIG. 43 illustrate another GUI screen shot for a mobile smartphone Appfor EV charging.

FIG. 44 provides a diagram of the functions of the advanced EnergyNetplatform in the present invention.

FIG. 45 is a screenshot for the EnergyNet Grid Element Photo Captureapplication.

FIG. 46 is another screenshot for the EnergyNet Grid Element PhotoCapture application.

FIG. 47 is another screenshot for the EnergyNet Grid Element PhotoCapture application.

FIG. 48 is another screenshot for the EnergyNet Grid Element PhotoCapture application.

FIG. 49 is another screenshot for the EnergyNet Grid Element PhotoCapture application.

FIG. 50 is another screenshot for the EnergyNet Grid Element PhotoCapture application.

FIG. 51 is a block diagram for the functions of a utility operatorinterface provided by an EnergyNet data platform.

FIG. 52 is a screenshot of a utility operator interface showing a heatmap of a distributed energy resource (DER) in a certain area displayingproduction capacity distribution by circuit view.

FIG. 53 is a screenshot of a utility operator interface showing energyproduction in a certain area by region.

FIG. 54 is a screenshot of a utility operator interface showing a heatmap of a DER displaying production capacity distribution by segmentview.

FIG. 55 is a screenshot of a utility operator interface showing atabular and graphic description of different segments.

FIG. 56 is a screenshot of a utility operator interface providing a mapof different DERs sites in a certain segment and information regardingeach site's configuration.

FIG. 57 is a screenshot of a utility operator interface showing adetailed energy description of a specific site.

FIG. 58 is a screenshot of a utility operator interface describing thegrid configuration of a specific site and showing the energy demand andusage of a specific site.

FIG. 59 is a block diagram for the functions of an interconnectionprocessing interface provided by an EnergyNet data platform.

FIG. 60 is a screenshot of an interconnection processing interfaceshowing interconnection progress by site.

FIG. 61 is a screenshot of an interconnection processing interfacedisplaying pre-approved production packages and listing interconnects inprogress.

FIG. 62 is a screenshot of an interconnection processing interfacedisplaying the scope and technical description for an interconnectionapplication submitted for review.

FIG. 63 is a screenshot of an interconnection processing interfacedisplaying information about the interconnection agreement for aninterconnection application assigned to an engineer for review.

FIG. 64 is a block diagram for the functions of a vendor/aggregator viewinterface provided by an EnergyNet data platform.

FIG. 65 is a screenshot of a vendor/aggregator view interface listingtop customer segments, top sellers in the marketplace, top campaigns inthe marketplace, and pre-approved production zones.

FIG. 66 is a screenshot of a vendor/aggregator view interface displayingcustomer segment research for vendors/aggregators.

FIG. 67 is a screenshot of a vendor/aggregator view interface displayingsubmission of a device for catalog content review.

FIG. 68 is a block diagram for the functions of a marketplace viewinterface provided by an EnergyNet data platform.

FIG. 69 is a screenshot of the log in screen for a marketplace viewinterface.

FIG. 70 is a screenshot of a marketplace view interface displaying acustomer's buildings on a map and information related to energy usage atthe buildings.

FIG. 71 continues to illustrate the marketplace view interface of FIG.70 with an overlay providing information about a specific building.

FIG. 72 is a screenshot of a marketplace view interface displaying thedescription, energy rate, current/average usage, and daily cost for asite.

FIG. 73 is a screenshot of a marketplace view interface displayingcurrent energy usage.

FIG. 74 is a screenshot of a marketplace view interface displaying pastenergy usage.

FIG. 75 is a screenshot of a marketplace view interface allowing usersto compare the energy use of different buildings.

FIG. 76 continues to illustrate the marketplace view interface of FIG.75 with an overlay showing a brief description of a selected building.

FIG. 77 is a screenshot of a marketplace view interface showing acomparison between two buildings.

FIG. 78 continues to illustrate the marketplace view interface of FIG.77 with an overlay showing a recommendation to install an electricvehicle charging station.

FIG. 79 is a screenshot of a marketplace view interface showing thecurrent status of a customer's grid.

FIG. 80 is a screenshot of the home page of the marketplace forcommercial and industrial customers, residential customers, and popularapps.

FIG. 81 is a screenshot showing upgrade options in a marketplace viewinterface.

FIG. 82 is another screenshot showing upgrade options in a marketplaceview interface.

FIG. 83 is a screenshot showing a rate plan selector in a marketplaceview interface.

FIG. 84 continues to illustrate the marketplace view interface of FIG.83 with an overlay showing a description of a selected plan.

FIG. 85 is a screenshot of a marketplace view interface displaying otherservices provided by the marketplace.

FIG. 86 is a screenshot of a marketplace view interface showing thepayments dashboard.

FIG. 87 is a block diagram for the functions of a financial settlementview interface provided by an EnergyNet data platform.

FIG. 88 is a screenshot of a financial settlement view interface showingthe settlements dashboard.

FIG. 89 is a screenshot of a financial settlement view interface showingrecent transactions.

FIGS. 90A and 90B are screenshots of a utility bill verification for anelectric bill. FIG. 90A is the left side of the screen and FIG. 90B isthe right side of the screen.

FIGS. 91A and 91B are screenshots of a utility bill verification for anelectric and gas bill. FIG. 91A is the left side of the screen and FIG.91B is the right side of the screen.

FIG. 92 is a screenshot of a map of an electrical spend map zoomed outto show the Continental United States.

FIG. 93 is a screenshot of a map of an electrical spend map zoomed in tothe region level.

FIG. 94 is a screenshot of a map of an electrical spend map zoomed in tothe district level.

FIG. 95 is a screenshot of a map of an electrical spend map zoomed in tothe neighborhood level.

FIG. 96 is a screenshot of a sample settlement pricing zone.

FIG. 97 continues to illustrate the screenshot of FIG. 96 withadditional map layers for ERCOT Settlement Points.

FIG. 98 is a screenshot showing a satellite image of actual settlementpoints.

FIG. 99 is a screenshot of an overview of ERCOT Settlement Zones.

FIG. 100 is a screenshot of the log in screen for a financial modelvisualization interface.

FIG. 101 is a screenshot showing the selection of the financial modelfrom the dropdown menu.

FIG. 102 is a screenshot of a financial model page.

FIG. 103 is a screenshot showing kilowatt hour (kWh) Usage Distributionand kWh Generation Distribution.

FIG. 104 is a screenshot of a simulation showing meter distributionsrandomly added to the map over time.

FIG. 105 continues to illustrate the screenshot of FIG. 104 withadditional map layers for ERCOT Settlement Points.

FIG. 106 is a diagram illustrating NOP tokens as an instrument forhedging.

FIG. 107 is a diagram illustrating a power purchase publishingmeasurement events on the blockchain.

FIG. 108 is a diagram illustrating a power broker creating a request formeasurement information using a smart contract.

FIG. 109 is a diagram illustrating a power purchaser automaticallyproviding measurement to fulfil a smart contract.

FIG. 110 is a diagram illustrating a settlement authority clearingtransactions based on measurements and contracts on the blockchain-basedEnergyNet platform.

FIG. 111 is a diagram illustrating a power merchant controlling supplyoperations to meet contract conditions.

FIG. 112 is a diagram illustrating crowdsourcing renewable energy overthe blockchain-based EnergyNet platform.

FIG. 113 is a diagram illustrating advertising over the blockchain-basedEnergyNet platform.

FIG. 114 is a diagram illustrating messaging over the blockchain-basedEnergyNet platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings in general, the illustrations are for thepurpose of describing preferred embodiment(s) of the invention at thistime, and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. Any and alltext associated with the figures as illustrated is hereby incorporatedby reference in this detailed description.

The present invention relates to the use of real-time or near real-timedata for electric power messaging and settlements, and moreparticularly, to advanced energy settlements, messaging, andapplications for electric power supply, load, and/or curtailment anddata analytics associated with the same. The present invention alsocontemplates the use of blockchain technologies to solve problemsassociated with transparency, digital contracts, distributed ledgers,consensus, security, and compensation for suppliers and consumers ofelectric power in a market-based system, such as an Independent SystemOperator (ISO), an Regional Transmission Operator (RTO), a utilityservice area as defined by the National Electric Reliability Corporation(NERC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) or a governingentity responsible for establishing the regulations for the buying andselling of electric power, capacity, demand response or combinations.Systems and methods for ingress of data, aggregation of data, formattingof data, presentation of data or providing data analytics and customeror consumer guidance and controls are provided, and coupled with graphicuser interfaces for interactive control and command of grid elements,design, specification, construction, management and financial settlementfor any end user or consumer of electric power including commercial,residential, wholesale (brokers), retail electric providers, or anyentity authorized by the governing entity to conduct transactions on theelectric power grid. Furthermore, specific applications for distributedenergy resources, renewable energy, storage devices, electric vehicles,fuel cells or any supply or demand side technologies are provided indata centers and/or microgrids for military, government, business andresidence. The present invention also provides power consumptioncontrol, management, messaging and settlements, mobile applications, websites, marketing offers, optimal pricing for comparable energy plans,retail electric provider and direct consumer alternatives, network ofpower architecture, EnergyNet applications, software development kit(s),application program interfaces (APIs), service oriented architecture(SOA) also known as web services, application web-based storefronts, andcombinations thereof

The present invention provides for systems, methods, and graphic userinterface embodiments for providing electric power usage (past, current,and/or future projected) information, management, financial settlements,and messaging, and applications as described herein. In addition, thepresent invention provides for the use of blockchain technologies thatprovide for market based electric power usage (past, current, and/orfuture projected) information collection, management, tokens, financialsettlements, alternative currencies such as “crypto currencies”,distributed databases, distributed general ledgers and secure messagingdistributed amongst coordinators and data processing nodes as describedherein.

An advanced energy settlement platform is provided including at leastone server computer operable for communication over a network with amultiplicity of distributed computing devices. The platform can also beembedded into grid elements that are physically or logically attached toa power grid, a network appliance, a coordinator and combinationsthereof. The advanced energy settlement platform aggregates consumptiondata from energy customers or their grid elements associated with thecustomer that contains revenue grade and settlement information andaggregates revenue grade metrology data from distributed generationsources, demand side management devices, renewable energy sources, orconsumption data from end users/consumers into settlement blocks. Theadvanced energy settlement platform is also capable of aggregatingsupply and consumption data from larger (macro) sources of generationsuch as combined cycle natural gas, coal, nuclear, utility sizedrenewable facilities into settlement blocks. The advanced energysettlement platform further aggregates and settles distributed energycharges with distributed generators or logical settlement nodes such aselectrical buses (substations), nodal market clearing points as definedby the market and for energy consumers during the billing period througha clearing house that measures, verifies, clears, reconciles and settlesthe settlement grade or revenue grade data. The advanced energysettlement platform further aggregates and settles fixed energy changeswith the energy retailer or retail energy provider for energy customersduring the billing period.

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to systems andmethods for financial settlement of transactions within an electricpower grid network are disclosed. A multiplicity of active grid elementsare constructed and configured for electric connection and network-basedcommunication over a blockchain-based platform. Each of the multiplicityof active grid elements comprises a computing component operativelycoupled with a memory. The multiplicity of active grid elements areoperable to make peer-to-peer transactions based on their participationwithin the electric power grid by generating and executing a digitalcontract; and generate messages autonomously and/or automatically withina predetermined time interval. The messages comprise energy related dataand settlement related data. The energy related data of the multiplicityof active grid elements are based on measurement and verificationsufficient as defined by the market or grid operator. The energy relateddata and the settlement related data are validated and recorded on adistributed ledger with a time stamp and a geodetic reference. The dataalso includes attributes of the grid element, supply or demand siderelevant or important for market participation or compliance with marketrules.

The present invention provides systems and methods for data analysis,messaging, advanced energy settlements, command and control andmanagement of electric power supply, demand, and/or curtailmentincluding graphic user interface for consumers, including consumerprofiles and alternative pricing programs and/or settlement programs forbusiness and residential applications, including but not limited tographic user interfaces for interactive control and command of gridelements, design, specification, construction, management and financialsettlement for data centers and/or microgrids, business and residentialpower consumption, control, management, messaging and settlements,mobile applications, web sites, marketing offers, optimal pricing forcomparable energy plans, retail electric provider and direct consumeralternatives, network of power architecture, EnergyNet applications,software development kit, application web-based storefronts, andcombinations thereof. Apparatus embodiments are also provided inaccordance with the systems and methods described herein.

Furthermore, novel methods of the present invention provided forconsumer guidance and controls are coupled with graphic user interfacesfor mobile applications, web sites, and computer displays that provideimproved information and controls for consumers for electric powerconsumption and management of financial settlement therefor.

In the description of the present invention, it will be understood thatall EnergyNet embodiments and AES systems and methods descriptionsinclude and incorporate by this reference without regard to individual,specific recitation for each example described, real-time and/ornear-real-time data, including revenue grade metrology or revenue grademetrology equivalent (RGME) as defined herein, used for AES financialsettlements. Additionally and similarly, real-time communication,messaging, and data packet transfer is provided over at least onenetwork associated with the advanced energy settlement platform of thesystems and methods of the present invention.

This detailed description of the present invention includes energyfinancial settlements and messaging and/or data packet transfer ortransmission, including the following issued patents, copendingapplication publications, and/or copending non-published applications bycommon inventor and/or assignee Causam Energy, Inc.: U.S. Pat. Nos.8,849,715, 8,583,520, 8,595,094, 8,719,125, 8,706,583, 8,706,584,2014/0180884, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,775,283, 8,768,799, 2014/0279326,WO2014/066087, 2014/0039699, 2014/0277788, 2014/0039701, U.S. Pat. Nos.8,588,991, 8,761,952, 2014/0277786, 2014/0277787, WO2014/022596,2014/0039699, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,849,715, 8,983,669, Ser. No. 14/885525,each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an overall electric power grid. Traditionally, it islargely One-Way Power Network from generation to transmission todistribution and consumption. The present invention reconstructs thetraditional market and enables new market participants, includingresidential customers, and commercial and industrial customers.Residential customers may have their own power generation system (forexample but not limited to rooftop solar systems) and their energystorage devices (for example but not limited to electric vehicles).Commercial and industrial buildings have smart meters installed, butalso utilize revenue grade or settlement grade sub-meters to provide thedata necessary to participate and utilize the advanced energysettlements platform.

FIG. 2 is a network of power with all the participants and the EnergyNetPlatform in the present invention. Different market participants areconnected to the network of power with specific Application programsfrom an electric app store over an EnergyNet platform. The EnergyNetplatform also provides advanced energy settlements for different marketparticipants.

FIG. 3 illustrates EnergyNet features in the present invention.EnergyNet is a secure and dynamic marketplace ecosystem enabling energyconsumers, distributed generators, utility service providers, equipmentproviders and application developers to participate in financial andelectrical service transactions. EnergyNet delivers an “app store,”real-time communications, real-time financial transactions and dataservices to all power grid participants. EnergyNet is a market platformecosystems with an “arm's length” interface to existing OT and ITsystems. Real-time communication increases messaging andtelecommunications exchange speed among grid elements, existing griddeployments, and intelligent management systems. Advanced settlementsdeliver rapid payments to market participants and settle transactionswith energy markets in days instead of weeks; enables distributed energyresources to aggregate capacity, generation, or DR to the market level;and provides intelligent analysis including making decisions andforecasting based on high-velocity, revenue-grade data capture from gridelements, meters, generators, controls, and distribution networks.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a microgrid integration. There are twomicrogrids, Microgrid A and Microgrid B, electrically andcommunicatively integrated to a network of power. An EnergyNet platformis coupled to the network of power. A detailed structure of Microgrid Aand Microgrid B are illustrated in the two modules respectively. Thenetwork of power gathers metrology, settlement and contract managementdata from Microgrid A and Microgrid B. The EnergyNet platform has itsapplication stack including security, provisioning, auditing,visualization, analytics, rules, workflow, event management. TheEnergyNet platform provides consumer engagement.

FIG. 5 is another diagram of microgrid integration. There are twomicrogrids, Microgrid A and Microgrid B. Microgrid B is electrically andcommunicatively integrated to a network of power, and provides gridcontrol, demand response, real-time modeling, and data acquisition.Microgrid A is externally linked to a real-time modelling module. BothMicrogrid A and the real-time model module are connected to the networkof power for providing grid control, demand response, real-timemodeling, and data acquisition. The network of power provides gridelement profiles, models/topologies, kWh settlement, reporting, andthird party integration. The network of power is coupled with anEnergyNet platform, which provides consumer engagement.

FIG. 6 is a scheme diagram of Federated Microgrid Communities. Thesemicrogrid communities are located in different grid zones. Each of themicrogrid communities has a structure shown in FIG. 5 . There arecommunication links among different microgrid communities within a gridzone.

The present invention includes a multiplicity of interactive graphicuser interface (GUI) for all aspects of AES and/or EnergyNetembodiments. By way of example and not limitation, as illustrated in thefigures, at least one GUI is provided for electric power consumption forbusiness or commercial facilities, including information and/or controlswherein the GUI is provided for mobile applications, websites, terminaland/or computer displays, and combinations thereof. For mobileapplications, one embodiment includes a mobile communication computerdevice, such as a smartphone, tablet computer, or other mobile smartinteractive communications device (personal/wearable or portable),having an application including software operable on a processor coupledwith memory, wherein the mobile communication computer device isconstructed and configured for network-based communication within acloud-based computing system as illustrated in FIG. 7 .

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the inventionillustrating a computer system, generally described as 800, having anetwork 810 and a plurality of computing devices 820, 830, 840. In oneembodiment of the invention, the system 800 includes a cloud-basednetwork 810 for distributed communication via a wireless communicationantenna 812 and processing by a plurality of mobile communicationcomputing devices 830. In another embodiment of the invention, thesystem 800 is a virtualized computing system capable of executing any orall aspects of software and/or application components presented hereinon the computing devices 820, 830, 840. In certain aspects, the computersystem 800 may be implemented using hardware or a combination ofsoftware and hardware, either in a dedicated computing device, orintegrated into another entity, or distributed across multiple entitiesor computing devices.

By way of example, and not limitation, the computing devices 820, 830,840 are intended to represent various forms of digital computers andmobile devices, such as a server, blade server, mainframe, mobile phone,a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a desktop computer, anetbook computer, a tablet computer, a workstation, a laptop, a wearablecomputing device, and other similar computing devices. The componentsshown here, their connections and relationships, and their functions,are meant to be exemplary only, and are not meant to limitimplementations of the invention described and/or claimed in thisdocument

In one embodiment, the computing device 820 includes components such asa processor 860, a system memory 862 having a random access memory (RAM)864 and a read-only memory (ROM) 866, and a system bus 868 that couplesthe memory 862 to the processor 860. In another embodiment, thecomputing device 830 may additionally include components such as astorage device 890 for storing the operating system 892 and one or moreapplication programs 894, a network interface unit 896, and/or aninput/output controller 898. Each of the components may be coupled toeach other through at least one bus 868. The input/output controller 898may receive and process input from, or provide output to, a number ofother devices 899, including, but not limited to, alphanumeric inputdevices, mice, electronic styluses, display units, touch screens, signalgeneration devices (e.g., speakers) or printers.

By way of example, and not limitation, the processor 860 may be ageneral-purpose microprocessor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)),a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microcontroller, a Digital SignalProcessor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), aField Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD),a controller, a state machine, gated or transistor logic, discretehardware components, or any other suitable entity or combinationsthereof that can perform calculations, process instructions forexecution, and/or other manipulations of information. Also included areembedded and open source program languages, machine language that can beexecuted at the coordinator, server, the end device, and combinationsthereof

In another implementation, shown as 840 in FIG. 7 , multiple processors860 and/or multiple buses 868 may be used, as appropriate, along withmultiple memories 862 of multiple types (e.g., a combination of a DSPand a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or moremicroprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core).

Also, multiple computing devices may be connected, with each deviceproviding portions of the necessary operations (e.g., a server bank, agroup of blade servers, or a multi-processor system). Alternatively,some steps or methods may be performed by circuitry that is specific toa given function or hardware appliances or discrete hardware devicesthat are capable of performing the tasks described herein.

According to various embodiments, the computer system 800 may operate ina networked environment using logical connections to local and/or remotecomputing devices 820, 830, and 840 through a network 810. A computingdevice 830 may connect to a network 810 through a network interface unit896 connected to the bus 868. Computing devices may communicatecommunication media through wired networks, direct-wired connections orwirelessly such as acoustic, RF or infrared through an antenna 897 incommunication with the network antenna 812 and the network interfaceunit 896, which may include digital signal processing circuitry whennecessary. The network interface unit 896 may provide for communicationsunder various modes or protocols.

In one or more exemplary aspects, the instructions may be implemented inhardware, software, firmware, or any combinations thereof. A computerreadable medium may provide volatile or non-volatile storage for one ormore sets of instructions, such as operating systems, data structures,program modules, applications or other data embodying any one or more ofthe methodologies or functions described herein. The computer readablemedium may include the memory 862, the processor 860, and/or the storagemedia 890 and may be a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed computer system) that store the one or moresets of instructions 900. Non-transitory computer readable mediaincludes all computer readable media, with the sole exception being atransitory, propagating signal per se. The instructions 900 may furtherbe transmitted or received over the network 810 via the networkinterface unit 896 as communication media, which may include a modulateddata signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism andincludes any delivery media, including modulation across the powerlines, modulated carrier signals along or across power lines,distribution or transmission subsystems, and combinations thereof. Theterm “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of itscharacteristics changed or set in a manner as to encode information inthe signal.

Storage devices 890 and memory 862 include, but are not limited to,volatile and non-volatile media such as cache, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM,FLASH memory or other solid state memory technology, disks or discs(e.g., digital versatile disks (DVD), HD-DVD, BLU-RAY, compact disc(CD), CD-ROM, floppy disc) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other medium that can be used to store the computer readableinstructions and which can be accessed by the computer system 800.

It is also contemplated that the computer system 800 may not include allof the components shown in FIG. 7 , may include other components thatare not explicitly shown in FIG. 7 or may utilize an architecturecompletely different than that shown in FIG. 7 . The variousillustrative logical blocks, modules, elements, circuits, and algorithmsdescribed in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may beimplemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinationsof both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware andsoftware, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits,and steps have been described above generally in terms of theirfunctionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware orsoftware depends upon the particular application and design constraintsimposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement thedescribed functionality in varying ways for each particular application(e.g., arranged in a different order or partitioned in a different way),but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the application (e.g., smartphone app) automaticallyprovides information via the GUI associated with the app to indicate tothe user (consumer) information about electric pricing planalternatives, including but not limited to their location, the price forelectric power supply on any per unit (data center, microgrid, building(commercial or residential), facility, device, grid element, andcombinations thereof) for a duration and/or at a predetermined time, andcombinations thereof Also, preferably the app GUI provides additionalinformation including marketing and advertising information about anymerchants, products, and/or services associated with or related to theirprofile(s), power usage, activities within the system, and combinationsthereof. Also preferably, the app GUI provides an interactive interfaceallowing inputs to be received for generating at least one account andcorresponding profile, advanced energy settlements selections, etc. Inone embodiment of the present invention, the received inputs areassociated with a consumer or user profile that is stored on thesmartphone and/or in a database associated with a server computer and/orcloud-based computing system with at least one server computer and atleast one database having remote inputs and outputs via the data andcommunications network, preferably via secure access and/or securemessaging for authorized users associated with the at least one account.Data centers are interconnected to form a secure SaaS, localizedinterdependently operated subsystems are connected for autonomousoperations if disconnected from the SaaS or cloud-based system.Components must be virtualized through VMware, open source equivalent,etc. even if they are going into the same logical node and runningthrough same EMS or microgrid EMS or microgrid power management solution(MPMS). If a microgrid is 100Watt or of regulated size, then it issubject to performance and liability regulations from FERC, NERC, ISO,governing entity, etc. Cloud-based system must be separated at or abovethat level.

In a virtualized or cloud-based computing system and methods of thepresent invention, the following components are provided as illustratedby way of example and not limitation to those described in FIG. 7 .Components of a cloud-based computing system and network for distributedcommunication therewith by mobile communication devices include but arenot limited to a system including a server computer with a processingunit. The server is constructed, configured and coupled to enablecommunication over a network. The server provides for userinterconnection with the server over the network using a remote computerdevice or a personal computer (PC) or smartphone, tablet computer, etc.positioned remotely from the server. Furthermore, the system is operablefor a multiplicity of remote personal computers or terminals forexample, in a client-server architecture, as shown. Alternatively, auser may interconnect through the network using a user device such as apersonal digital assistant (PDA), mobile communication device, such asby way of example and not limitation, a mobile phone, a cell phone,smart phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, netbook, a terminal, incar computer, or any other computing device suitable for networkconnection. Also, alternative architectures may be used instead of theclient/server architecture. For example, a computer communicationsnetwork, or other suitable architecture may be used. The network may bethe Internet, an intranet, or any other network suitable for searching,obtaining, and/or using information and/or communications. The system ofthe present invention further includes an operating system installed andrunning on the server, enabling server to communicate through network810 with the remote, distributed user devices. The operating system maybe any operating system known in the art that is suitable for networkcommunication.

FIG. 8 illustrates method steps for providing advanced energysettlements (AES) according to one embodiment of the present invention.A settlement AES process is outlined in six distinct steps as follows:Revenue grade settlement block data is used to underpin the settlementprocess for the billing period e.g. daily, weekly, monthly or predictand pay; Settlement block data is mapped to the appropriate distributedor fixed energy power purchase agreement in effect at that point intime; the cost or pricing of each settlement block inclusive of Time ofUse (TOU), demand, taxes, access fees and energy charges is calculated;a customer balance is summated from all the settlement blocks that applywithin the period is and automatically collected from the customer;Distributed energy charges billed in the cycle are aggregated bygenerator and settled through the clearing house for activities by thedistributed generators and/or at least one customer; Fixed energycharges billed in the cycle are aggregated and settled with the energyretailer or REP for the delivery of power by theTransmission/Distribution Service Provider (TDSP).

The EnergyNet data platform used with AES preferably provides and/or isoperable for real time revenue grade data ingress; store and organizepacket level information that can be used for forecasting, data mining,revenue extraction, event detection, sophisticated energy management andenterprise integration purposes; aggregate and store revenue data intorevenue grade settlement blocks (or Power Trading Blocks (PTBs));connect microgrid and spot market buyers and sellers; provide a fullyautomated and high latency industry leading settlement processunderpinned by a distributed settlement rules engine capable of settlingwith both distributed and fixed generator market participants; providean automated payment exchange which supports all advanced billing models(shared data plan, daily plan and predict & pay); payments should bemanaged as single energy bills for customers with EnergyNet responsiblefor settlement payments between multiple distributed energy generatorsand the customers' existing energy retailer; provide a real time energypurchasing solution that matches the customers' real energy consumptionagainst energy currently available within the microgrid or spot market;capture and transform market data that can provide intelligent analyticsby generators for trending, forecasting, planning and maximisingrevenue/investment opportunities; capture and transform energy data thatcan provide intelligent analytics for customers energy management,forecasting, procurement, profiling, bill optimization andrecommendation purposes; and integrate with the existing distributedenergy market exchange to allow EnergyNet buyers and sellers to connectand agree prices on distributed generation or curtailment, with revenuegrade metrology or with a revenue grade metrology equivalent (RGME) thatprovides data within less than about 10% variation from revenue grademetrology as required by the utility or governing entity for theelectric power grid management and settlement, wherein the RGME isprovided by a lower accuracy device and/or derived by data from thelower accuracy device combined with historical data or other complexrules and billing determinants, to generate the RGME that is approved oraccepted for financial settlement based upon contracts, digitalcontracts, or virtual contracts between and among at least two entitiesin connection with the financial settlement for those grid elementshaving RGME. For example RTU is a non-revenue grade device but is usedfor energy auditing, or as a starting point for disputing paymentswithin prior art systems for financial settlement and energy settlement.In the systems and methods of the present invention, RGME mechanismprovides data that the buyer and seller agree to accept for settlement,including financial and energy settlement for DER, load control,curtailment, and combinations, and including line losses. Forinterconnected devices, i.e., power supplying or power consuming devicesthat share the same interconnection for the electric power grid, theagreements between the parties provide for energy settlement and thecorresponding market-based financial settlement for the electric powergenerated or consumed, including RGME instead of traditional revenuegrade metrology as required by the utility or governing entity of theelectric power grid.

As illustrated in FIG. 14 , EnergyNet grid applications ensure that theEnergyNet framework is operable to support 1:n grid applications. Thirdparty infrastructure may provide Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)integration with utility and/or market participant enterprise systems;provide SOA integration with general ledger and accounting systems;and/or provide SOA integration with the financial, banking and clearinginfrastructure, as needed.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a high-level AES systemarchitecture according to the present invention. It illustrates aVisaNet platform to demonstrate AES for the power sector. The primaryrevenue formula includes percentage of settlement transaction fee as intraditional VisaNet Model and platform sales to RTO/ISO with O&M atannual rate (20%-25%). The secondary revenue includes per settlementtransaction fee of $0.01/transaction (est. 600 MM/day) bi-lateral andsales of basic analytics services and other settlement capabilities. Thedownstream potential includes: Big Data analytics fees for advancedsecurity assessments and other analyses; other opportunities for banksand energy companies to collaborate on future business transactions(e.g., credit scoring); “VisaNet for the Power Grid,” whichsignificantly reduces transaction costs for customers and marketparticipants; provides near real-time settlement, for example, one totwo days for 90% of transactions; provides a scalable solution to handlehigh volume and velocity; and a solution for the future when a massiveincrease in scale of distributed generation and discrete local pointsare anticipated. The principal actors and data flows depicted in FIG. 9and FIGS. 15 and 16 are as follows for EnergyNet embodiments: Customersreceive near real time market connection data and price signals givingvisibility to generation as it becomes available in the market. Thisdata is used by EnergyNet to facilitate intelligent energy purchasingand settlement between all market participants; Distributed generationavailability in the form of power purchase offerings is received fromDistributed Generators ensuring that intelligent energy purchasingdecisions can be automated or recommended within a real time market.Customers with a generation capacity can also act as generators throughEnergyNet if they have an exportable capacity; Payments received fromthe Customer Bank represent consolidated single payments to EnergyNetfor energy supplied from their existing Energy Retailer or fromDistributed Generators; Settlements are apportioned across revenue gradeTOU meter readings over a billing period and internal usage is measuredthrough real time sub metering technology at 1 second intervals and/ornear-real-time or real-time. Sub-metered entities are considered asfollows: EnergyNet supports the billing of sub-metered occupantsallowing the EnergyNet customer to re-sell or cross charge energy usingthe sub metered meter readings. The EnergyNet customer instance willallow these energy costs to be recovered against the enterprises totalenergy consumption. Distributed generation suppliers are included asfollows: Market participants publish power purchase offerings toEnergyNet customers. This data is used by EnergyNet to facilitateintelligent energy purchasing. Excess energy capacity can also beoffered to the market by customers using EnergyNet. The distributedgenerator/generation supplier participants receive settlements from theDistributed Generator Bank or financial settlement entity (non-bank);distributed generator receives cleared settlements for all energyconsumed within the billing timelines specified in the distributed powerpurchase agreements of EnergyNet customers. A clearinghouse receives allun cleared distributed energy settlements made through EnergyNet's,point of sale devices or advanced billing methods before passing thecleared settlements to the Generator Bank or financial settlement entity(non-bank entity). Customer Payments received from the Customer Bankrepresent consolidated single payments for energy purchased on the boththe distributed and fixed generation market. EnergyNet performs allsettlement activities for all participants behind the single bill;EnergyNet can also manage the payments for energy re-sold or crosscharged by the customer. This can be viewed and analysed against theimported energy bill. The distributed generator bank receives aggregatedand cleared settlements from the Clearinghouse for distributed energythat was consumed within each power purchase agreement held by EnergyNetcustomers. An energy retailer or REP is included as follows in oneEnergyNet embodiment: Customers can still consume energy supplied byfixed generators outside the spot energy or micro market and the portionof a customer's consumption that resides within their fixed generationpower purchase agreement will be settled with the retailer. Thesettlement algorithms resolve this using settlement blocks, all powerpurchase agreements in place and revenue grade meter reads. Purchasingwithin the spot market requires prices to be negotiated and agreed inseconds and these activities require integration with existing markettrading systems. A growing customer base would allow EnergyNet toprovide a complete trading market between users in the future. Thepurchasing rules engine criteria allows generators respond to customerpreferences and offer a variety of different tariffs as wells as altertheir own behavior e.g. if they are a customer/generator can they shifttheir highest usage off peak and export excess energy at peak periodswhen demand and prices are higher.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary EnergyNetgateway according to the present invention. The EnergyNet gateway in thepresent invention connects different participants having differentnetwork protocols to the advanced energy settlement platform. Thedifferent participants comprise green communities, microgrid operators,building managers, market participants, and retail utilities. TheEnergyNet gateway is also used for peering interconnections. Differentcommunication protocols/standards supported by the EnergyNet gatewayinclude but not limited to LTE, 3G, 1 GBps, VPN, IPSec, ModBus, DNP3,kWp, KYZ, JDBC, REST, WiFi, Zigbee, SEP, 1 GBps, PLC, BLE. At locallevel, the EnergyNet gateway is operable for monitoring, controldetection, management, and reliability analysis. At network level, theEnergyNet gateway is operable for profiling response settlement andapplications recommendations.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a partial selection ofexemplary grid elements according to the present invention. The gridelements can be power transfer switches, wind meters, utility meters,battery discharge controllers, tenant sub meters, solar meters, powerdistribution units (PDUs), appliance switches, EV charging stations,distributed energy resources (DERs), transfer switches, EV batteries,battery storage solutions other than EVs, inverters, controllable loads,weather stations, and HVAC environments.

FIGS. 12 and 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating components of thesystems and methods of the present invention. The systems of the presentinvention include on premise physical instances, IP network, a Causamdata center, EnergyNet Content Storefront, and EnergyNet DistributionPartner, EnergyNet Market Interface, and Utility Infrastructure at theEnergy Supplier. The on premise physical instances such as EnergyNetgateway, carrier network card, VirtuWatt Red Lion, Paladin gateway arepresent at Ethernet meters, WiFi/Bluetooth thermostats, utility meters,solar inverter battery array, KYZ Pulse meters, MODBUS DNP3 Foreseer,for IP network connection. The Causam data center has a physical layerincludes EnergyNet Ingress for meter data management (MDM),provisioning, security and licensing, and EnergyNet distributeddatabases (for example: Hadoop) for analysis. The Causam data centerfurther includes a cloud application layer providing event detection,third party App instance, mobile and web user interface, purchasing andsettlements, monitoring, Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) andSoftware Development Kit (SDK) services, profiling trending analytics,modeling and forecasting, demand response, distributed generationmanagement, virtual power plant (VPP), and outage management. TheEnergyNet Content Storefront provides third party App reference, whichhas one-way communication to the third party App instance in the Causamdata center for cloud Virtual Machine (VM), App replication, App review,and provision process. The EnergyNet Content Storefront also providesshopping and marketing directed to consumer and generator. The EnergyNetDistribution Partner includes installers, HVAC technicians, andfinancing institutions, which are referrals for network fulfilment. TheEnergyNet Market Interface connects with regulation agencies, forexample ERCOT and other RTOs, for signaling and pricing. The EnergySupplier can be IOU, REP, and/or Municipal power agencies. The UtilityInfrastructure at the Energy Supplier provides applications, such asVPP, Distribution Management System (DMS), and DER applications, andUtility Enterprise Infrastructure. The Utility Enterprise Infrastructurecommunicates with the SOA and SDK services at the Causam data center viaIPSec and/or VPN for standard or customer SOA integration. FIG. 14 is aschematic diagram illustrating a grid application model of the systemsand methods of the present invention. The EnergyNet Grid ApplicationModel includes aggregated market view, existing utility AMI, EnergyNetData Platform, EnergyNet Grid Applications, and Third PartyInfrastructure. The Aggregated Market View provides information such asmarket level trends, traffic, line losses, and risk. The ExistingUtility AMI includes multi-AMI for head end systems, grid elements forsensing, grid elements for controlling, multi-devices/vendors, andmulti-network. The EnergyNet Data Platform provides API for dataingress, event detection, profiling and forecasting, analytics andintelligence, payments and settlements, recommendations. The multi-AMIfor head end systems in the existing utility AMI provides marketingconfirmation to data ingress on the EnergyNet Data Platform. Therecommendations provided by the EnergyNet Data Platform are marketingrecommendations provided to multi-network in the existing Utility AMI.EnergyNet Grid Applications include multiple grid applications. Forexample, grid application 1 is for data presentment, pre-payment, datacollaborations, shopping carts for commercial consumers, gridapplication 2 is for customer recruiting, behavior recommendations, billoptimization for retail electric provider; grid application 3 is forpoint of sale, charging stations, merchant and marketing integration forelectric vehicle network; grid application 4 is for financial routinginstructions, point of sale terminals for REP to generator settlement,etc. Third Party Infrastructure includes SOA for utility enterprise,consumer information, general ledger, accounting, billing, payment,banks, marketing, strategy, capitalization and investment.

FIG. 15 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a high-level systemarchitecture for an EnergyNet embodiment according to the presentinvention. This high-level system architecture includes a customerdeployable distributed EnergyNet Customer Instance providing customerswith a complete energy management, purchasing and settlement solutionwithin the microgrid and spot generation market for AES. FIG. 16 is aschematic and flow diagram illustrating AES sequencing; there are fourkey elements within the EnergyNet enterprise financial settlementproduct: data ingress, market participation, payments collection andadvanced energy settlements. Intelligent purchasing decisions requireadvanced smart metering and EnergyNet uses high speed IP meteringtechnology to build a complete and real time energy consumption profileaggregated from multiple sub-metering points. All consumption datawithin the enterprise forms settlement blocks, which are used to drivethe billing and settlement process. All metering data is aggregated toprovide a real time settlement block and total enterprise consumptionview with drill down. This data forms the basis for billing, settlement,forecasting, market view and other analytical transformations.Aggregation of multiple distributed nodes and/or microgrids into logicalnodes for interconnection with the utility or main power grid and forsettlement at those nodes is also provided. Note that EnergyNet can alsoutilize less dynamic data from legacy meters and head end systems wherea customer investment in conventional sub metering has already beenmade. In some markets, carbon credit and renewable energy credits are“self-reported” through data input directly to forms via a web siteinterface or through manual data input methods. While sub-optimal, thisdata can be utilized if it is acceptable to the governing entity.Profiling is an important element for customers to forecast future usageand committing to purchase offerings. Time of Use (TOU) and/or demandprofiles created from base data are an important tool for customers andgenerators alike; industry standard profiling techniques can be used tocreate profiles. Generators can use profiles to price their products andplan their generation activities. Customers can use them to ensure theycommit to the power purchase offerings that are best aligned with theiranticipated usage.

Buyers and sellers of electric power are connected within the microgridor spot market associated with AES of the present invention. Buyers canexpose their generated capacity to customers in near real time andcustomers can make intelligent purchasing decisions based uponactionable real time data. The Advanced Energy Settlement (AES) processperforms all billing, payment and settlement activities with financialand clearing participants. A configurable market purchasing rules engineranks and selects energy from the market based on customer preferencessuch as cost, payment preference, locality, how green the energy, marketsupply, consumption etc. and may recommend purchasing from one or moresuppliers. The suitability of the offering also depends on additionalfactors such as any minimum and maximum usage constraints which requiresdecisions to be made based upon forecasts derived using historical dataand profiling stored within EnergyNet.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating AES evolution for thesystems and methods of the present invention. Comparing to legacysettlements, the advanced energy settlements in the present inventionhas an EnergyNet Platform communicates with a clearing house, which doesthe settlements between the generator bank and the consumer bank besidessimpler communications and less participants.

Certain Apps are provided for different participants in the advancedenergy settlement systems. These Apps are operable for command andcontrol, advanced settlement, monitoring and alarming, etc. via realtime communication.

FIG. 18 illustrates a graphic user interface screen shot for anembodiment of the present invention showing a distributed generationApp. The Distribution Generation App provides an overview of adistributed generator including a basic profile, curves for generatorpower and utility power, scales for generator voltage and utilityvoltage. The distribution generation App also provides details for thegenerator, maintenance and scheduling, log and notifications.

FIG. 19 illustrates a graphic user interface screen shot for oneembodiment of the present invention showing a microgrid control Appapplicable to data centers and/or microgrids. A one-line microgriddiagram is displayed with bus voltage information and branch power flowinformation.

FIG. 20 illustrates a graphic user interface screen shot for anembodiment of the present invention showing an AMI Head End App. The AMIHead End App is operable for deployment management and tariffadministration. The AMI Head End App is operable to operate metermanagement module and alarm propagation. The AMI Head End App providessmart data viewer and operational logs for monitoring distributed PVgeneration and/or wind farm.

FIG. 21 illustrates a graphic user interface screen shot for anembodiment of the present invention showing an AES App. The AES appprovides daily payment and clearing, bid/offer pairing between microgeneration and consumers, monitoring and alarming.

FIG. 22 illustrates a graphic user interface screen shot for anembodiment of the present invention showing an EnergyNet applicationdevelopment kit. Users can login the kit with a username and password.The EnergyNet Application Development Kit provides codes for browserconstruction and layout. The Kit provides connectivity for real timecommunication, command and control, payments and settlements, and thirdparty SOA services and Enterprises.

FIG. 23 illustrates another GUI screen shot for the embodiment of FIG.22 showing a datacenter example case. Several instruments can beutilized for developing the datacenter layout. FIG. 24 illustratesanother GUI screen shot for the embodiment of FIG. 22 showing adatacenter example case with XML editing. FIG. 25 illustrates anotherGUI screen shot for the embodiment of FIG. 22 showing a datacenterexample case with EnergyNet App dashboard view. FIG. 26 illustratesanother GUI screen shot for the embodiment of FIG. 22 showing anEnergyNet App view for real-time minute data.

FIG. 27 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for commercial building or facilities data over time,including historical, real-time, and projected future data for each ofat least one commercial building. FIG. 28 illustrates another GUI screenshot showing EnergyNet App dashboard view for commercial building orfacilities data associated with FIG. 27 for developing a profile for abuilding or facility. FIG. 29 illustrates another GUI screen shotshowing EnergyNet App dashboard view for commercial building orfacilities data associated with FIG. 27 for comparing buildings within apredetermined geographic area. FIG. 30 illustrates another GUI screenshot showing EnergyNet App dashboard view for commercial building orfacilities data associated with FIG. 27 for showing Apps associated withthe profile and/or account in addition to a tab for building profiles.FIG. 31 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for automatically generated recommendations for the userand/or account associated with FIG. 27 , including Apps and servicesofferings. FIG. 32 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNetApp dashboard view for automatically generated recommendations for theuser and/or account associated with FIG. 27 , in addition to thoseillustrated in FIG. 31 . FIG. 32 also shows recommendations for serviceand product market place. FIG. 33 illustrates another GUI screen shotshowing EnergyNet App dashboard view for at least one of the selectedautomatically generated recommendations for the user and/or accountassociated with FIG. 32 , including automatically generated relatedoffers. FIG. 33 also shows electric vehicle turnkey installation as amarket officer from the recommendations.

EnergyNet is a one-stop or integrated platform and provides an automatedpayment exchange using advanced billing models which allow customers topay in a variety of ways, for example a shared data plan coupled with amonthly payment plan, a daily payment plan, and/or pre-payment plan witha remote disconnect option enabled. Single payments simplify access tothe distributed energy market and are automatically aggregated andsettled between the distributed and fixed generators via energyretailers. Prompt payment reduces the cost of capital, bad debt andcredit risk for market participants; it is a fundamental aspect of theAES. Payments are collected through integration with third party paymentbanking systems and can be managed by customers in the Energy NetCustomer Portal GUI. A meter data aggregator allows entities to functionas intermediary between load serving entity or to share data to theTDSP, and is provided with the platform. Also, payment to customers maybe provided for their data to facilitate transactions through the EnergyNet Customer Portal GUI.

FIG. 34 illustrates a GUI screen shot for an embodiment of the presentinvention showing a Select a Billing Option interactive GUI providingalternative payment options that are optimized to provide lowest ratesfor AES, including Billing Source for making electronic payments withcredit card(s) and/or financial or bank accounts, including adding NewBilling Source. FIG. 35 illustrates another GUI screen shot showingEnergyNet App dashboard view for completing AES plan enrollment andshowing Recommend Upgrades options for interactive selection.

FIG. 36 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet App viewfor an AES financial summary for a building as illustrated in the priorfigures associated with FIG. 27 for a commercial building. FIG. 37illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet App view for anAES financial summary with additional information relating to FIG. 36 .This additional information includes electric daily overview, electricusage history, account summary, and recommendations and offers.

FIG. 38 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for REPS for AES participation, including at least apartial ledger view. Information, such as sellers, buyers, rates,contracts, fuel types, and value, is listed for each transaction. Akilowatt packet (KWP) settlement timeline is also provided.

FIG. 39 illustrates another GUI screen shot showing EnergyNet Appdashboard view for a featured App for anonymous comparison of electricalenergy usage within a predetermined geographic area, as well as otherApps, for selection for an account and/or user.

FIGS. 40-43 illustrate GUI screen shots for a mobile smartphone App forelectric vehicle (EV) charging. FIG. 40 relates to finding a station andincludes a GPS-based map and current location of the EV App user. ThisApp is operable to locate and reserve a station near you now, in advanceor on your GPS itinerary, and provide target marketing based on userprofile and priority. A “green” App is for people focusing onrecharging. An “urban” App is for people focused on reserved parking. A“healthy” app is for people focused on shopping. FIG. 41 relates toreserving a station and includes a blow-out section from a GPS-basedmap. Information such as availability, fees, recharge strength,amenities, and nearby services, is provides. Users may book reservationin advanced, or pre-purchase one time or with subscription. FIG. 42relates to arriving at the station reserved in FIG. 41 . Once arrivingat the reserved station, a user simply parks his car, receives a pushnotification call to action, and purchases via smartphone device or invehicle dash display. New users need to sign up by GPS location, GQ,RFID, Video, or EV charger identification. FIG. 43 relates to dataassociated with the parked and/or charging time for the EV and relatedreserved station of FIG. 41 . Users can view vehicle recharging statusand fees associated, browse offers, order food, and easily top-up orextend reservation. Discounts and parking validation is automatic bylocal retailers and marketers. Users can view their vehicles throughvideo security monitoring while enjoying free WiFi videos and games.

The account, consumer, and/or user profile(s) preferably includes aunique user identifier or identification, such as, by way of example andnot limitation, a username and password. Further information ispreferably provided, including an account identifier, user financialaccount information, utility and/or market participant accountinformation, geodetic information such as by way of example and notlimitation a smartphone location identifier (such as GPS-based locationinformation, RFID, and/or near-field communication identifier), which ispreferably communicated wirelessly over network-based communication tothe server computer and/or processor with memory associated with theaccount for advanced energy settlements, and/or communicated with userof optical bar code, QR code, Digital Radio, Radio FrequencyIdentification, Optical Pattern Matching, etc. Additional informationmay optionally be associated and/or stored with the consumer profile,and communicated via the network, including historical data relating toenergy consumption, status, supply systems (by way of example and notlimitation, back-up power supply, generator(s), battery, alternativeenergy such as solar, wind, etc., smartphone transactions relating toenergy-affected activities, history of purchases made for productsand/or services, history of offers and responses made for productsand/or services, and combinations thereof. At least one message includedwith the GUI preferably includes information about electric power supplypricing and corresponding plan alternatives associated with advancedenergy settlements; additional advertising and offers for productsand/or services may be provided via the GUI based upon the correspondingprofile for the user and/or account, opt-in/opt-out inputs, andcombinations thereof. Preferably, market pricing conditions via acustomer profile that can be loaded to a computer, smart phone, tablet,or any web-enabled appliance for accepting or modifying a profile ormoreover a profile that automated controls based upon previouslyselected economic messages. In a further embodiment, energy consumptionpatterns within active grid elements profiles could be used to identifyopportunities for up selling, down selling, or cross selling. Theseopportunities may be determined by the power utility or marketparticipant, REP, and/or by affiliates, partners, or advertisers. Datafrom active grid elements profiles associated with the user and/oraccount (including historical data, real-time data, and/or projected orpredicted future data) may be used to provide insights on inefficientdevices, defective devices, or devices that require updating to meetcurrent standards, and/or products and services corresponding orcomplementary to the active grid elements or the user/account. Activegrid elements profiles data, individually or collectively (orselectively) in the aggregate, performance and/or participation, actionsor activities, may also be used to identify related power gridparticipation opportunities. Data from consumer purchase and marketingactivities may be used to provide insights on inefficient merchants orservice providers.

FIG. 44 provides a diagram of the functions of the advanced EnergyNetplatform in the present invention. The platform includes a privateelastic cloud providing Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP)security, provisioning, scalability, payment, auditing, analytics, rulesengines, workflows, and event detection. The advanced EnergyNet platformconnects a network of power and various EnergyNet Applications. Gridelements are connected to the network of power via various communicationprotocols over private networks, utility & telecommunication networks,3G, 4G LTE mobile networks, and/or copper & fiber broadband. Third partySOA is developed by different grid service providers and/or solutionstack vendors for different EnergyNet Applications, for example but notlimited to energy settlement, market place storefront, monitoring andcontrol, consumer engagement. Grid elements include but not limited tomicrogrids for critical infrastructure, commercial and/or industrialbuildings, electric vehicles, residential consumers, and distributiongenerations. The communication protocols include but not limited toMODBUS Serial, DNP3, Ethernet, OpenADR SEP, BLE, WiFi, EmergingStandards V2G, OpenADR 2b, ZigBee SEP, OpenADR CIM, DERMS, SEP, OpenADR,ICCP CIM. Meanwhile, grid element OEM can provide new grid elements tobe connected to the network of power through new network providers. Thethird party SOA enables grid service providers and/or solution stackvendors to provide third party service for the EnergyNet applications.Grid service providers and/or solution stack vendors include but notlimited to structured markets, financial services, market participants,independent power, wholesale aggregators, distributed utilities, retailutilities, service & Install Crews, Grid Element OEMs, powerconsultants, critical infrastructure management. The third party serviceincludes day ahead, real time and spot market pricing, AutomatedClearing House (ACH) routing, settlement float, tariffs, DR signaling,adoption, IoT behavior, performance, reliability, etc. Meanwhile, newapplication provider can add new applications to the platform.

By way of example and not limitation, the systems and methods of theadvanced energy settlement platform are operable for the design,specification, construction, management, and advanced energy settlementwith real-time or near-real-time market rates for electrical activitiesof a data center or a microgrid. GUI, icons, and/or visualrepresentations or symbols of grid elements (Grid Element Icons—GEIs)are provided by the system and methods of the present invention, andassociated with corresponding data for each of the grid elements storedin a grid element library or virtual or digital catalog. The gridelement data may be provided by corresponding grid element suppliers,equipment manufacturers, distributors, historical data from user/account(including but not limited to grid element purchases, acquisitions, gridelement activations for registration with the electric power grid,etc.), publicly available data from the internet, proprietary data,and/or custom-generated data. Preferably, the GUIs are selectable by aremote user on a computer having a display and interactive graphic userinterface for making a digital design for a data center. The GUIs may beclick-selected and/or by drag-and-drop selection from the grid elementlibrary to the design layout or schematic diagram, as illustrated onFIG. 19 .

In one embodiment, an EnergyNet Grid Element Photo Capture applicationis provided by the advanced EnergyNet Platform. Field technicians areresponsible for capturing Microgrid and DER information as part of asite survey or energy assessment. EnergyNet streamlines this process bytaking advantage of the geo location and camera capabilities of modernsmartphones. All mobile field captured information is immediatelyavailable to the back office support team.

FIG. 45 is a screenshot for the EnergyNet Grid Element Photo Captureapplication. Field technicians install this application on any modernsmartphone platform including iOS and Android. Professional ruggedizeddevices can be pre-provisioned and shipped to field technicians, orfield technicians can use their own commodity equipment available overthe counter.

FIG. 46 is another screenshot of the EnergyNet Grid Element PhotoCapture application. A field technician launches the application for thefirst time, a dialogue window pops out asking “allow“GridElementCaputre” to access your location even when you are not usingthe app?” and reminding “we require your location to geotag yourimages.” The filed technician approves the application to record and/orgeotag pictures.

FIG. 47 is another screenshot of the EnergyNet Grid Element PhotoCapture application. A field technician authenticates via single sign-inwith cloud service, such as google, or enterprise service, such asActive Directory or SAP.

FIG. 48 is another screenshot for the EnergyNet Grid Element PhotoCapture application. The primary function of the application is to takepictures of grid elements, meters, infrastructure, and power billinvoices. The video camera on the device instantly activates and theview finder displays the object the video camera is pointed at. Thefield technician presses the “Take Photo” button to capture an image ofthe object.

FIG. 49 is another screenshot for the EnergyNet Grid Element PhotoCapture application. After taking the image, the field technician isprompted to tag the content with a drop-down list of selections,free-form text, and optical character recognition (OCR) review andapproval. For example, OCR can be used to automatically detect metermanufacturer brand information, face place data, or LCD real-time datapoints.

FIG. 50 is another screenshot for the EnergyNet Grid Element PhotoCapture application. After the image is tagged, the user presses the“Submit Grid Element” button. The image, tagging, description, location,geoTag are all sent to the server side.

The active grid elements within an electric power grid (or off the gridin alternative embodiments) operate to receive information automaticallythrough a plurality of methods utilizing IP-based communications methodsand web based devices such as in car computers, smart phones, computers,text messages, paging messages, or even voice response units or livecustomer service agents. Under a real time scenario, active gridelements could dynamically “Opt In” to a pre-determined profile or “OptOut” or more importantly change the profile dynamically through theEnergy Net Customer Portal GUI to take advantage of real time marketpricing of electricity being sold by the utility, market participant,REP or any entity authorized to buy, sell and trade electric commodityor demand response products on behalf of the owner. Control activityincluding messaging for changing account and/or grid element settings,profile, functionality, and combinations thereof is also provided;analytics are included as well. Event-based messaging is also provided.In one embodiment, electric power is supplied through non-islandedmicrogrid or cogeneration. The settlement is independent of utility.Transformers are functioning like diodes; current flowing through thebranch is stopped. The advanced EnergyNet settlement platform matchesload and supply as long as not exceeding limitations of the leg. Theflow of power is stopped that is being measured by utility revenue gridmeter by TDSP. In another embodiment, still with utility connectedmicrogrid, but the advanced EnergyNet settlement platform can runbilateral transaction that is settled as described herein within. AddFERC Order No. 2003 and No. 2006 are incorporated by reference inentirety herein. The systems and methods of the present inventionfurther provide for analyzing the control activity, responses to thecontrols (for example like Google adwords so that when a marketingmessage is provided, then there is compensation for the messaging likeGoogle adwords), e.g., least cost provider for recharging mobileelectric power storage and/or EVs; whoever plugs in also is preferablyconnected to the financial settlement network associated with the mobileapp and/or charging terminal, which may further include a marketingdatabase, so that as the consumer is reviewing possible opportunities.The system includes AES messaging and/or payment to clear the messagesand/or data packet transmission, and for delivering the marketingmessage, and the analytics over the marketing message including but notlimited to open rate, response rate, referral rate, purchase conversionrate.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the EV app and GUI providefor targeted mobile and in-car advertising to the user or consumer basedupon the consumer profile, in particular where the consumer hasauthorized information to be shared or used for purposes other than forEV charging at any given time.

While the foregoing description of preferred embodiments illustrates theapplications for EVs as automobiles, the present invention furtherincludes other EV applications, including but not limited to trucks,transport vehicles, boats and boat marinas, and the like, and mobilebattery charging for portable storage of electric power. Also, thepresent invention for EV automobiles applies to private residence andprivate parking facilities, as well as fixed and temporary public EVcharging including but not limited to hotels, public parking slips orspots, public parking in garage settings, corporate, event venues,temporary parking, overflow parking, etc.

The EnergyNet data platform provides distinct graphic user interfaces(GUIs) for various participants of advanced energy settlements. In oneembodiment, the GUIs are web-based interfaces. In another embodiment,the GUIs are interfaces of mobile application programs (Apps) forvarious participants.

The GUI enables simulation and modeling for building demand responseresources DERs, microgrids, etc., allowing for a drag and drop thatautomatically triggers generation of a power model and a pro forma modelhaving at least one generator and/or at least one load device associatedwith it, and an engineering interconnection based upon location,equipment, grid identifier, geodetic information, attachment pointinformation, etc. The model considers collected data provided by thecustomer, historical data, and the current environment of thedistribution system; it allows any operable attachment point to be anenergy settlement and market-based financial settlement point, andprovides an interconnection to the attachment point. The model alsoindicates if devices are added, provides cost information for thedevices, lists the attributes of the devices, etc., which are used asinputs to generate a cost curve that determines how much the customerwill spend and funds receivable based upon participation in programs(e.g., encouraging sustainable or alternative energy).

The system includes a grid element catalog that includes attributes ofthe grid elements. Based upon customer inputs, the model indicatesoptions that match or fit the customer's profile. The model alsoprovides information about financing and energy capacity programs asprovided by REP, TDSP, independent system operator (ISO), RTO,community, FERC, and/or the governing body of the power grid. Once thecustomer selects a grid element, the system provides digital contractelements and/or financing terms associated with that grid element and/orcorresponding services. For example, installation, service, andmaintenance contract terms for generator, solar, etc. The digitalcontract is a standard form document between suppliers and consumers atwholesale or retail level. Digital contract terms are coordinatedthrough the platform for market participants (e.g., utilities,consumers, and all parties between the utility and consumer). Digitalcontract terms for a grid element device are presented as part of updatemessaging and/or programming, through a coordinator or distributeddatabase, or combinations thereof. Contract terms and data, includingbut not limited to financial settlements for grid elements and theirparticipation on or with any electric power grid, extend through thefields of the template and function as a complex rules engine to beadministered vis-à-vis the grid elements and related or correspondingservices, distributed architectures, networks, etc.

The GUI shows options for customers based on customer preferences, datagenerated by the customer, and the results of power modeling. End usecustomers (residential or commercial) are presented choices for gridelements, OEMs offering grid elements, energy plans, and service andmaintenance plans.

The platform makes calculations based upon the reliability of microgridsand/or DERs. These calculations are used to provide recommendations andupdated information to users in real time and/or near real time throughthe GUIs.

Electric vehicles or other mobile power storage devices on the microgridare part of the platform. The present invention allows for receiving,delivering, and/or discharging power from a mobile power storage device,interrupting the charging of that device, and combinations thereof witha portable market participant platform and corresponding GUI. Gridelements may decouple or couple to any pre-approved attachment point;this provides for dynamic interconnection of the grid element havingmobile power storage. The platform dynamically updates the model for thegrid upon confirmation of location or geo-detection of that gridelement. The platform also contains predictive analytics that showlocations in need of power inputs. Required components associated withthe mobile storage device or electric vehicle include at least a meterfor revenue grade metrology sufficient for market-based financialsettlement and at least one pre-approved attachment point for theinterconnect; the mobile storage device or electric vehicle must also beregistered with the platform. Pre-approved interconnection zones arethus provided for mobile grid elements; these zones and/or theiraggregation further provide for logical nodes for controlling orinputting power or load, demand response, etc. The zones may furtherfunction as balancing areas.

Utility Operator Interface

A utility operator interface provides a utility view for control roomstaff to control DERs with transparency. Maps, tables, and charts areapplied for illustration and view in regional or smaller areas. Regionalcontrol scenario algorithm and detail view control for specific premiseor units are applied for real-time behavior or run-mode adjustments tosupport grid operations.

FIG. 51 is a block diagram for the functions of a utility operatorinterface provided by an EnergyNet data platform. The utility operatorinterface provides utility operators with a utility view, map viewshowing DERs, aggregation bulk control in regional or smaller areas, anddetail view control for a specific premise or unit. In one embodiment,the map view of the utility operator interface includes a heat map ofDERs showing available capacity and running capacity. It provides atransparent view of utilization of assets in the field. In oneembodiment, a regional control scenario algorithm is used foraggregation bulk control. Current and/or historical weather and climatedata may be listed in a table. Detail view control provides real-timebehavior or run-mode adjustment to support grid operation.

FIGS. 52-58 are screenshots of a utility operator interface. FIG. 52shows a heat map of a distributed energy resource (DER) in a certainarea displaying production capacity distribution by circuit view. FIG.53 shows energy production in a certain area by region. Region name,production capacity, and production use are listed. A chart of availableproduction capacity vs. current use is also displayed. FIG. 54 shows aheat map of a DER in a certain region displaying production capacitydistribution by segment view. FIG. 55 shows a tabular and graphicaldescription of different segments. Segment status, segment name, zipcode, utility usage, the number of DERs sites in a segment, productionpotential, production use, and the microgrid configuration mode arelisted in a table. The microgrid configuration mode options include butare not limited to normal production and economic demand response. Whenthe utility cost is above a threshold, the microgrid in a certainsegment may be in economic demand response mode. Control room staff canperform segment control via the utility operator interface, for example,to change microgrid configurations. Production sources are presented ina pie chart listing the type of power source, including but not limitedto solar, generator, or storage. A bar graph of production vs.consumption is also shown, along with the average monthly production ofenergy per square foot, average monthly price per square foot for energyproduced, average monthly consumption of energy per square foot, andaverage monthly price per square foot for energy consumed. FIG. 56provides a map of different DERs sites in a certain segment andinformation regarding each site's configuration. Energy production,demand, and usage can be displayed for each site. The progress by siteis shown, including information about whether a site is online, in theplanning phase, or under interconnection review. A heat map includingthese different sites is also displayed. FIG. 57 provides a detailedenergy description of a specific site. A heat map showing the locationof the specific site is provided. Different energy sources, includingalternate solar, utility, and battery storage, are listed with theircurrent status, rate, and power usage. Solar energy production isillustrated in a bar graph, and values are shown for the currentproduction and average daily production. FIG. 58 describes the gridconfiguration of a specific site and shows the energy demand and usageof that site. Various configuration modes include normal operation,off-grid island, grid parallel, distributed generation, demand response,and black start support. Utility operators are enabled to activate acertain configuration mode. Demand and use is displayed graphically, andinformation about the real-time power usage, current energy usage,current daily cost, average energy usage, and average daily cost isprovided.

Interconnection Processing Interface

FIG. 59 is a block diagram for the functions of an interconnectionprocessing interface provided by an EnergyNet data platform. Theinterconnection processing interface enables a sales engineer for a DERprovider, demand response, curtailment response provider, or renewableenergy provider, or any assets deployed at transmission/distributionsystem level for electric power grids to facilitate interconnectionrequests and studies, system sizing and template, shopping and orderadjustments, and interaction with the utility interconnect desk. Theinterconnection processing interface also provides a validation functionwherein a sales engineer is unable to submit an incomplete system.

FIGS. 60-63 are screenshots of an interconnection processing interface.FIG. 60 shows interconnection progress by site. Address, productionconfiguration, average power, peak power, interconnection request stage,and time in progress are provided for each site. FIG. 61 displayspre-approved production packages. Descriptions of solar packagesincluding size, equipment needed (e.g., solar panels, backup batteries,and backup generators), average power, peak power, and the number ofimplemented packages are provided, as well as descriptions of generatorpackages including the average power, peak power, and number ofimplemented packages. The interface also includes a list ofinterconnects in progress and the time in progress. FIG. 62 displays thescope and technical description for an interconnection applicationsubmitted for review. The interface displays a description of the site,the package selected by the customer, the average power production, peakpower production, gateway, interconnect license information, utility,implementation zone, and installer. FIG. 63 displays information aboutthe interconnection agreement for an interconnection applicationassigned to an engineer for review. The interface displays the address,days in process, package selected by the customer, implementation zone,and installer; it also allows for design notes to be entered about theapplication.

Vendor/Aggregator View Interface

FIG. 64 is a block diagram for the functions of a vendor/aggregator viewinterface provided by an EnergyNet data platform. The interface enablesvendors/aggregators to browse distributed service provider customers,perform outreach, lower the cost of customer acquisition, and submitservices and devices for catalog content review.

FIGS. 65-67 are screenshots of a vendor/aggregator view interface.Vendors can see their portfolio and prospect for new sales via thevendor/aggregator view interface. FIG. 65 lists top customer segments,top sellers in the marketplace, top campaigns in the marketplace, andpre-approved production zones. FIG. 66 displays customer segmentresearch for vendors/aggregators. The platform is operable to allow avendor user from level 3 (L3) to search customers based on key words,for example, zip code. The system also presents vendors with GUIs orviews customers using relevant information such as address, meter status(e.g., active, inactive), meter type, client type (commercial orresidential), billing status, upgrades opt-in, building size, monthlycost, monthly energy consumption, cost per square foot, industry type,etc. FIG. 67 displays submission of a device for catalog content review.Vendors/aggregators can edit information regarding pricing, rebates, anddescriptions for a certain type of device, and provide informationregarding optional services offered.

Marketplace View Interface

FIG. 68 is a block diagram for the functions of a marketplace viewinterface. The marketplace view interface enables new customers todiscover what other customers are doing in the market, and enablesexisting customers to manage their portfolios on the market and seebundles and offers for transaction.

FIGS. 69-86 are screenshots of a marketplace view interface. Themarketplace view interface enables commercial, industrial, andresidential participants, such as homeowners or facility managers, tosee their energy information, shop for new products or services in themarketplace on the EnergyNet platform, and manage rate plans. FIG. 69 isa screenshot of the log in screen for a marketplace view interface.FIGS. 70-72 display various functions under the “Dashboard” tab in themarketplace view interface. FIG. 70 displays a customer's buildings on amap and information related to energy usage at the buildings. Theinterface provides a list of all buildings owned or managed by thecustomer, the monthly cost per square foot for each building, and allowsthe customer to compare buildings. FIG. 71 continues to illustrate themarketplace view interface of FIG. 70 with an overlay providinginformation about a specific building. The overlay lists the price persquare foot and energy rate for the building. FIG. 72 displays thedescription, energy rate, current/average usage, and daily cost for asite. The power sources for the site are listed (e.g., utility, solar,backup generator), and a summary of the account balance is shown.Additionally, a recommendation to configure the site's grid to connectto nearby microgrid producers is displayed.

FIGS. 73-78 display various functions under the “Energy Use” tab in themarketplace view interface. FIG. 73 displays current energy usage,including a real-time power usage chart, average daily power usage, peakdaily power usage, peak monthly power usage, cumulative daily energyuse, average daily energy usage, 30 day energy usage, and 30 dayreactive energy usage.. FIG. 74 displays past energy usage, includingweekly use pattern, use by category, use trending, building usecomparison, and drift analysis. FIG. 75 is a screenshot of a marketplaceview interface allowing users to compare the energy use of differentbuildings. FIG. 76 continues to illustrate the marketplace viewinterface of FIG. 75 with an overlay showing a brief description of aselected building. FIG. 77 shows a usage and cost comparison between twobuildings. The interface also allows the user to compare the energy useof a specific building to the regional average. FIG. 78 continues toillustrate the marketplace view interface of FIG. 77 with an overlayshowing a recommendation to install an electric vehicle (EV) chargingstation.

FIG. 79 displays the current status of a customer's grid. Power sources(e.g., solar, utility, backup generator) are listed with real-timeand/or near-real-time status and power level, and real-time and/ornear-real-time UPS status and power levels are displayed. Graphicrepresentations of power usage efficiency (PUE) and carbon dioxideemissions are shown. A table showing source status, including the sourcename, status, and power level, is displayed. Additionally, arecommendation to configure the site's grid to connect to nearbymicrogrid producers is displayed, as well as a recommendation topurchase an upgraded battery storage device.

FIGS. 80-85 display various functions under the “Marketplace” tab in themarketplace view interface. FIG. 80 is a screenshot of the home page ofthe marketplace for commercial and industrial customers, residentialcustomers, and popular apps. The home page suggests completing abuilding survey for more recommendations. FIGS. 81 and 82 show upgradeoptions, including turnkey installation for EV charging stations,battery storage upgrades, and low interest financing on generatorupgrades. FIG. 83 shows a Rate Plan Selector as one of the servicesprovided by the marketplace. Recommended plans are listed based on theuser profile. Other plans are also listed and users may filter thelisted plans by information such as cost or plan type (e.g., all,renewable, fixed, variable). A user may select a plan by clicking the“Select Plan” button next to the plan. FIG. 84 continues to illustratethe marketplace view interface of FIG. 83 with an overlay showing adescription of the selected plan, including the simplified rate, planterms, and additional fees. If the user decides to select the plan, theycan do so by clicking “Enroll in Plan.” FIG. 85 displays other servicesprovided by the marketplace, for example, community solar installation,heating and air conditioning inspection and tune-up, and a leasingprogram for residential battery storage.

FIG. 86 displays the payment dashboard in the marketplace viewinterface. Payment status, marketplace recommendations, and a billingsummary are provided. The billing summary includes weekly history,energy usage, rate, change, and total for the rate plan. Users can alsoadd funds to the account through the payment dashboard.

Financial Settlement View Interface

FIG. 87 is a block diagram for the functions of a financial settlementview interface provided by an EnergyNet data platform. The financialsettlement view interface provides information regarding settlements,transactions, and revenue split payouts, as well as financial reports.The financial settlement view interface also enables utility back officestaff to see a view of revenue streams from the EnergyNet platform tothe utility. The supplied energy and consumed energy are also reconciledand provided in similar views such as a general ledger format. Ablockchain view may also be provided, wherein a list of nodes isprovided that show the number of transactions that are being publishedthrough the nodes, which allows users to view their node and status oftransactions through the node.

FIGS. 88-89 are screenshots of a financial settlement view interface.FIG. 88 displays the settlements dashboard of the financial settlementview interface. The financial settlement view interface is operable toshow different transaction types (e.g., energy production, gridelements, services, application programs) performed by the EnergyNetplatform and the percentage of financial settlements within theEnergyNet platform for each transaction type. The production transactiontype includes settlements between energy consumers and energy providers.The grid elements transaction type includes solar panels and backupgenerators. The services transaction type includes EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) service, financing, installation, and ancillaryservices. An example of an ancillary service is regulationdown/regulation up in Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). TheApps transaction type includes the building monitoring app and otherapps. The financial settlement view interface also displays marketplacecampaign information, including annual profit potential, and digitalcontracting status for different sites. A table of recent productionsettlements, including transaction number, energy rate, and settlementamount (value), is also shown. FIG. 89 displays recent transactionswithin the financial settlement view interface. Detailed information foreach transaction number is provided, including seller, buyer, rate,contract type, fuel mix, and value.

Tiers or Levels within the EnergyNet Platform

One embodiment of the present invention is a system of an advancedenergy network, comprising a platform communicatively connected to atleast one distributed computing device operable for providing inputsfrom at least one energy user, wherein the platform is operable to:create a user profile for the at least one energy user; collect energyusage data for the at least one energy user; associate the energy usagedata with the user profile corresponding to the at least one energyuser; aggregate the energy usage data; estimate projected energy usagefor the at least one energy user; predict energy consumption data basedon the energy usage data and the projected energy usage data; and storethe energy usage data, the projected energy usage data, and thepredicted energy consumption data in a database. In Level 0 (L0) of thepresent invention, the user or consumer is engaged in the platform byproviding verified information on actual energy usage to the platform.In Level 1 (L1) of the present invention, the user may provideadditional information to the system and/or additional information maybe gathered from public sources. In Level 2 (L2) of the presentinvention, the user may add grid elements to their user profile. InLevel 3 (L3) of present invention, the utility, grid element vendors,meter data aggregators, etc. may identify sales opportunities based ondata in the database and provide marketing for products and/or serviceofferings to consumers (consumer users) or commercial users withprofiles within the EnergyNet platform. In Level 4 (L4) of the presentinvention grid elements operable for providing electric power supply (byway of example and not limitation, solar power generation, fuel cell orbattery power storage devices, wind generation, back-up powergenerators, etc.) that are properly constructed and configured, modeled,and connected with revenue grade metrology acceptable for energysettlement and market-based financial settlement within the energymarket, are introduced after being registered and profile created withinthe EnergyNet platform.

In one embodiment, for level 0 (L0) the actual energy usage datadocumented within a utility bill is uploaded to the platform by anenergy user having a profile or creating a profile on the EnergyNetplatform. The actual energy usage data is uploaded and communicated overat least one network to at least one computer or server associated withthe platform, which automatically recognizes the format of the utilitybill based upon prior utility bill(s) uploaded by at least one user. Forexample, if a first user uploads a utility bill to the platform andselects the relevant information from the utility bill, the platform mayautomatically recognize the format of utility bills for subsequent userswho have the same service provider. Also or alternatively, the energyuser inputs indication of which data to capture from the utility billfor automatic association with that user's profile. The system alsoprovides options for the energy user to selectively redact informationon the utility bill, such as customer name, account number, and PINnumber. The platform may automatically populate the database based onthe data on actual energy usage in the utility bill. The platform isfurther operable to collect at least one of real-time or near real-timedata from grid elements and data from smart meters associated with theat least one user.

FIGS. 90A and 90B are screenshots of a utility bill verification for anelectric bill. The utility bill is shown on the left side of the screenin FIG. 90A. The system extracts the relevant information from theutility bill, such as service address, bill date, and current chargesfor electricity from the bill as shown in FIG. 90B. The system allowsusers to select the relevant information to be extracted. In a preferredembodiment, the user can adjust the selection overlays with matchingcolors on the bill by dragging the overlays or their corners as needed.If the information is still incorrect after adjusting the selectionoverlays, the user can modify the values in the fields themselves. Whenall fields are correct, the user can verify the values in the fields bypressing the confirm button as shown in FIG. 90B. If the systemrecognizes the format of the utility bill, it automatically populatesthe fields in FIG. 90B with the name of the electric provider, serviceaddress, building type, bill date, and current charges. Information suchas the customer name, account number, and PIN number may be redacted bythe system and/or user inputs as shown in FIG. 90A. FIGS. 91A and 91Bare screenshots of a utility bill verification for an electric and gasbill. The utility bill is shown in FIG. 91B. The system populates thecurrent charges field in FIG. 91B with the electric charges and does notinclude “Other Charges & Credits” in the value populated in the field.

The embodiments disclosed make use of the “user profiles” concept. Theuser profile includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) energyuser name; (2) service address; (3) electric provider; (4) buildingtype; (5) historical and current bill dates; and (6) historical andcurrent charges for electrical service. The user profile may furtherinclude information regarding geodetic location; meter ID; customerprograms (possibly including program history); device information,including device type and manufacturer/brand; user energy consumptionpatterns; and connection and disconnection profile. Theconnection/disconnection profile can include service priority (i.e.,elderly, police, etc.) and disconnection instructions.

In other embodiments, additional data called “variability factors” maybe captured by the system as part of the user profile, including, butnot limited to, the following: (1) outside temperature, (2) sunlight,(3) humidity, (4) wind speed and direction, (5) elevation above sealevel, (6) orientation of the service point structure, (7) duty durationand percentage, (8) set point difference, (9) current and historic roomtemperature, (10) size of structure, (11) number of floors, (12) type ofconstruction (brick, wood, siding etc.) (13) color of structure, (14)type of roofing material and color, (15) construction surface ofstructure (built on turf, clay, cement, asphalt etc.), (16) land use(urban, suburban, rural), (17) latitude/longitude, (18) relativeposition to jet stream, (19) quality of power to devices, (20) number ofpeople living in and/or using structure, (21) age of structure, (22)type of heating, (23) lot description, (24) type of water, (25) othersquare footage, and (26) other environmental factors. Additional datathat may be stored by the system include vacancy times, sleep times, andtimes in which control events are permitted. User profiles may alsoinclude whether a swimming pool is located at the service address.

In level 1 (L1) of the present invention, the user may provideadditional information to the system and/or additional information maybe gathered from public sources to further populate the user profile.Information regarding the plurality of variability factors may obtainedfrom public sources. For example, information regarding weather (e.g.,outside temperature, sunlight, humidity, wind speed and direction) maybe obtained from publicly available weather services. Additionally,information regarding size of structure (e.g., square footage), numberof floors or stories, type of roofing material, type of construction,age of structure, type of heat, etc. may be found on publicly availableweb sites (e.g., county or state records, Zillow, and Trulia). Users maybe given incentives to provide additional information for their userprofile.

The user profile may further contain information regarding userpreferences, wherein the user preferences comprise at least one ofautomatic uploading of utility bills, contact preferences, paymentpreferences, privacy preferences, renewability of energy sources, gridelement preferences, rate plans, consumption, cost, locality, and marketsupply.

The platform uses information in the user profile to generate moreaccurate predictive consumption data. For example, if one energy useruploads a utility bill, that utility bill may be used to generatepredictive consumption data for similar structures or similar geographiclocations (e.g., houses in the same neighborhood). If additional energyusers upload utility bills, the aggregated data from the utility billsmay be used to generate more accurate predictive consumption data. Withadditional information, such as variability factors, the platform isable to increase the accuracy of the prediction. For example, a housewith a pool and an electric vehicle would be expected to use moreelectricity than a house in the same neighborhood without a pool orelectric vehicle. Additionally, a larger house or multi-story housewould have a larger predictive energy consumption than a smaller houseor single-story house in the same neighborhood. Also, typically olderhouses have lower energy efficiency, due to factors affecting energyconsumption, e.g., older HVAC equipment that is less efficient thanmodern equipment, and/or factors affecting the leakage of conditionedair, e.g., less insulation, older windows and doors, etc. Variabilityfactors may be added to the system by users or obtained from publicsources of data.

The platform is further operable to display a map of the predictedenergy consumption as shown in FIGS. 92-95 . FIG. 92 shows anelectricity spend map zoomed out to show the Continental United States.FIG. 93 shows an electricity spend map zoomed in to the region level.The area, electrical spend summation, electrical spend count, electricalspend average, electrical spend minimum, and electrical spend maximumare listed in a table. FIG. 94 shows an electricity spend map zoomed into the district level. The state, area, electrical spend summation,electrical spend count, electrical spend average, electrical spendminimum, and electrical spend maximum are listed in a table. FIG. 95shows an electricity spend map zoomed in to the neighborhood level. Thezoomed in map is a satellite image showing houses in a particularneighborhood. The electrical spend summation, electrical spend count,electrical spend average, electrical spend minimum, and electrical spendmaximum are listed in a table. The electrical spend for each house isshown above the house.

In Level 2 (L2) of the present invention, the system receives userinputs that associate at least one grid element with their correspondinguser profile. The grid elements include but are not limited to powertransfer switches, wind meters, utility meters, battery dischargecontrollers, tenant sub-meters, solar meters, power distribution units(PDUs), appliance switches, electric vehicle charging stations,distributed energy resources (DERs), transfer switches, electric vehiclebatteries, inverters, controllable loads, weather stations, and/or HVACenvironments. For example, the system may receive an indication orselection inputs from a user regarding a present or future interest in,or action for installing and operating of, solar panels to their rooffor the location associated with their corresponding user profile; thischange and the user's preferences or profile regarding the solar panelsis saved in the database.

In Level 3 (L3) of present invention, the at least one utility or marketparticipant and its partners (e.g., vendors) utilize the EnergyNetplatform to identify sales opportunities based on data in the database.Data that is anonymized or permission-based access to data from userprofiles may be used to provide insights on inefficient devices,defective devices, or devices that require updating to meet currentstandards. User profile data may also be used to identify related salesopportunities. For example, if energy consumption patterns suggest thatthe user may be very interested in personal energy conservation, thensales efforts could be directed toward that individual concerningproducts related to that lifestyle. This information can be used by theutility or its partners to provide incentives to users to buy newer,updated devices, or obtain maintenance for existing devices. The user isgiven the option to opt out of having his user profile used for salesand marketing efforts, or for regulating energy conservation. The userprofile makes use of open standards (such as the CPExchange standard)that specify a privacy model with the user profile. The use ofconsumption patterns in this manner is governed by national, state, orlocal privacy laws and regulations.

A further embodiment of using user profiles to identify salesopportunities involves the use of device information to createincentives for users to replace inefficient devices. By identifying theknown characteristics and/or behavior of devices within a service point,the invention identifies those users who may benefit from replacement ofthose devices. The invention estimates a payback period for replacement.This information is used by the utility or its partners to createredemptions, discounts, and campaigns to persuade users to replace theirdevices.

Users may be grouped by geography or some other common characteristics.For example, groups might include “light consumers” (because theyconsume little energy), “daytime consumers” (because they work atnight), “swimmers” (for those who have a pool and use it), or othercategories. Categorizing users into groups allows the utility or itspartners or market participants to target sales and marketing efforts torelevant users.

EnergyNet Graphs

FIG. 96 is a screenshot of a sample settlement pricing zone. The blueshaded areas with dark outlines in the figure are settlement zonescorresponding to traditional settlement zones established by energymarkets, e.g., ERCOT, wherein the market (ERCOT) determines thegeographic zones that comprise the settlement zones, wherein electricpower grid resources settle energy supplied and load consumed to thenearest resource point or settlement point, which are shown in theadditional map layers in FIG. 97 . Anything northwest of the blue shadedzone with dark outlines illustrated settles in the uppermost settlementarea marked with a “$” on the map. Larger grid elements, by way ofexample and not limitation, power plants, substations, transmissioninterconnections, large commercial or industrial locations with theirown substations, are also identified and energy settlement andcorresponding market-based financial settlement by the market (e.g.,ERCOT), which also defines them within its settlement zones and definesthe pricing node for them. Locational marginal price (LW') is based uponwhere the grid elements (supply or load grid elements) are relative tothe blue settlement area with dark outlines marked with a “$” on themap.

FIG. 98 is a screenshot showing a satellite image of actual settlementpoints. The interface allows the user to zoom in with satellitephotography to identify each grid element, e.g., power plant,substation, large commercial and/or industrial grid elements or powersupply grid elements. The zones are close together in this view becausea commercial facility is drawing significant amounts of power off thedistribution of electrical power of the grid. Also illustrated are apower plant and light commercial and/or industrial, and residentialconsumers in that second zone. While these grid elements and electricpower loads exist and are identifiable within the GUIs and within theEnergyNet platform and system, within the EnergyNet platform thetraditional zones and nodes established by the market (e.g., ERCOT) aresubdivisible into logical points below the LMP or settlement nodes. Thesystems and methods of the present invention are operable to aggregateand/or directly control load below these traditional zones, nodes, andattachment points. While new loads and new power supply (e.g., newgeneration source) may be introduced and operable below the traditionalzones or nodes, the market (e.g., ERCOT) will not have data associatedwith those newly introduced and operable grid elements (for load and forsupply) unless it is supplied to the market via the EnergyNet platform.For example, if a solar generation grid element and solar energy fuelcell or storage is introduced to the electrical power grid via theEnergyNet platform and located within one of the illustrated traditionalzones, then it is operable to start introducing power for distributionat the proximal substation. The market would only be able to detect thata lower amount of electrical power is being drawn at the substationlevel or traditional zone. However, after the solar generation gridelement and solar energy fuel cell or storage is registered and activewithin the EnergyNet platform, energy settlement and market-basedfinancial settlement for the electrical power introduced or supplied tothe electric power grid is provided at the point of attachment(attachment point) for those solar grid elements. This contrasts withprior art, where the market cannot detect or settle energy or providefor market-based financial settlement below the traditional zones orsubstation level.

FIG. 99 is a screenshot of an overview of ERCOT Settlement Zones. Thenumber inside the point represents the number of nodes geographically ateach point. For example, there are 17 subnodes within the locationmarked with a “17” on the map, and 16 subnodes within the locationmarked with a “16” on the map; these subnodes correspond to ERCOTsubnodes, which provide for settlement zones at Level 4 within thesystem.

Financial Model Visualization Interface

A financial model visualization interface allows at least one utility ormarket participant, to run Monte Carlo simulations for adding new metersto the market, energy usage distribution, and/or energy generationdistribution. Adjusting the simulation parameters (e.g., mean, standarddeviation, skewness) provides for minimizing or managing risk fordecision-making and investment related to the electric power grid, andto better predict outcomes.

FIG. 100 is a screenshot of the log in screen for a financial modelvisualization interface. In a preferred embodiment, the user can sign into system and authorize the application with an account provided by athird party, e.g., Google. FIG. 101 is a screenshot showing theselection of the financial model from the dropdown menu. FIG. 102 is ascreenshot of a financial model page. The left half of the screen showsa meter installation population density attraction with a heat map. Theattraction percentage can be adjusted with a sliding bar. The right halfof the screen shows the rate of new meters added to the market. The meanrate of new meters added to the market per day, the standard deviation,and the skewness can be adjusted with a sliding bar. A graph displaysthe rate of new meters added to the market based on the mean, standarddeviation, and skewness selected. FIG. 103 is a screenshot showing kWhUsage Distribution and kWh Generation Distribution. The left half of thescreen shows kWh Usage Distribution. The mean energy usage, standarddeviation, and the skewness can be adjusted with a sliding bar. A graphdisplays the kWh usage distribution based on the mean, standarddeviation, and skewness selected. The right half of the screen is todisplay kWh Generation Distribution. Users would be able to adjust themean energy generation, standard deviation, and the skewness in much thesame way as for kWh Usage Distribution. A graph could also be displayedwith the kWh generation distribution based on the mean, standarddeviation, and skewness selected. Skewness values may differ forresidential, commercial, and industrial uses.

FIG. 104 is a screenshot of a simulation showing meter distributionsrandomly added to the map over time. A map is shown on the left half ofthe screen showing a meter heatmap with the dots representing meters. Agraph is shown on the right half of the screen showing the increase inthe number of meters on the y-axis and time on the x-axis based on theparameters selected. FIG. 105 continues to illustrate the screenshot ofFIG. 104 with additional map layers for ERCOT Settlement Points. Theuser can select the following levels: meters, meter heatmap, settlementpoints, settlement regions, and usage heatmap. The user can also viewthe map as open street, grayscale, and streets. A map is shown on theleft half of the screen showing a meter heatmap, settlement points,meters, and settlement regions. A graph is shown on the right half ofthe screen showing the increase in the number of meters on the y-axisand time on the x-axis based on the parameters selected.

The following are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety:the NY REV order, CAL ISO rules and proposed rules and subsequent orderfor DER marketplace, ERCOT presentation stakeholder concerns, and termsand their definitions: telemetry light, telemetry medium, etc.

The blockchain technology is based on existing communication protocols(e.g., HTTP, RPC), cryptography (grown from Public key cryptography in1976), distributed peer-to-peer sharing mechanisms (e.g., Napster,bitTorrent), and a distributed set of databases kept in synchronizationbased on time. The blockchain technology is a technology thatpermanently records events or transactions on a network in atransparent, auditable, and irrefutable way. A blockchain ledger isstored on each blockchain node participating in or comprising a network.Blockchain nodes include, but are not limited to grid elements,coordinators, network appliances, servers, mobile devices, work stationsor any networked client that can interface with an IP-based network andcan operate an operating system capable of processing blocks. Blockchainis a loose specification rather than a specific implementation, which iscapable of unlocking monopoly power over information in infrastructuresystems for telecommunications, healthcare, finance, energy, andgovernment. In an introduction to blockchain applications in TheBusiness of Blockchain by William Mougayar (2016), which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety, it is established that just as theWeb could not exist without the Internet, blockchains could not existwithout the Internet, and thus, the use of blockchains within thesystems and methods of the present invention provide that it is notmerely an abstract idea, since it is inextricably tied to Internettechnology.

There are many public blockchain networks (e.g. Internet facing), butthe real growth is coming with private blockchain networks (e.g.,Intranet) for specific uses like healthcare record processing. There arealso hybrid networks that allow movement of information betweennetworks. For example, there are many competing public networks thathave their own currency to exchange goods and services, and there arehybrid networks that allow payment with currency from a differentnetwork.

The EnergyNet platform operable within the systems and methods of thepresent invention is based on three core pillars: measurement andverification of grid elements and their activity within an electricpower grid or microgrid, smart digital contracts, i.e., self-executingdigital contracts governed by rules engine(s) and terms, and advancedsettlements, including energy settlements and corresponding financialsettlements for active grid elements. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the EnergyNet platform is built based on the blockchaintechnology. Each grid element is operable to function as a node on apower grid network or microgrid network. Each grid element is associatedwith at least one computing component. The at least one computingcomponent is selected from the group consisting of PCs, laptops,smartphones, tablets, and any processor coupled with memory connectedwith a grid element. The at least one computing component for the gridelements are constructed and configured in network communication withthe EnergyNet platform. Thus, the power control of grid elements on thepower grid network and the business transaction or advanced energysettlement associated with the power control and active grid elementactivity on the EnergyNet platform are separate functions, but arerelated or coordinated based upon measurement and verification of dataof the grid element(s) performance or function on the grid or microgrid.

In one embodiment of the present invention, data packets from gridelements are recorded and the information contained in the data packetsare encrypted, stored and coded into blocks on a blockchain on a node.Each block includes a timestamp and a geodetic reference or a gridattachment point for each data packet denoting when and where the datapacket is generated. The data packets include energy related dataassociated with corresponding grid elements and their intended activefunctioning within the electric power grid. For example, but not forlimitation, each data packet includes a data content (raw data,transformed data, status, change in state, revenue grade metrology,unique grid element identifier, and combinations thereof), a priority, asecurity, and a transport route for communication over a network. Rawdata includes information generated by, sensed by, measured by, orstored by a grid element. For example, raw data includes metrology,location, grid element identifier, C.12.19 tables, meter data, softwareversion, firmware version, LSE priority, and combinations thereof. Thedata content is based on measurement and verification, so that the datacontent in each data packet is measurable and verifiable. The priorityis based upon factors associated with the electric power grid followinga hierarchy of priority including grid reliability factors, gridstability factors, energy market-based factors, billing determinants,energy settlement factors, financial settlement factors, transmissionfactors, and revenue grade metrology.

In one embodiment, block payloads are used to transfer data acrossmultiple distributed EnergyNet platforms. For example, meter read datais visible to the supplier of the power, and to whoever buys the powerbased on a smart digital contract. This enables customers (marketparticipants) to know exactly what information is used for theirtransactions. The blockchain implementation of the smart contracts havea security via cryptography including but not limited to hashing, keys,and/or digital signatures. A hash is a unique fingerprint that is usedto verify that information within the blockchain has not been altered,without the need to actually see the information itself. Public-privatekeys are used. Together, these security elements of the blockchain usedfor the present invention systems and methods provide for publicvisibility but private inspection of the information itself. Thus, withthe inclusion of blockchain and cryptocurrency for financial settlementof grid element transactions within the electric power grid ormicrogrid, the EnergyNet platform of the present inventionsimultaneously provide for a computing infrastructure, transactionplatform, decentralized database, distributed account ledger,development platform, advanced energy financial settlement andmarketplace, peer-to-peer network of grid elements, and a trust serviceslayer. Advantageously, the EnergyNet platform is further operable forenabling and handling microtransactions or microsettlements and largevalue transactions, including but not limited to aggregated transactionsor settlements from at least one Power Trade Block (PTB) unit.

In one embodiment, the data packets from different grid elements alsoinclude energy settlement information and financial settlementinformation associated with corresponding grid elements and transactionsbetween the corresponding grid elements. The energy and financialsettlement information is cryptographically secured on the blockchain.By way of example but not limitation, financial settlement informationincludes identification of payor, payee, transaction amount, transactiontime, transaction method, contract term, rate, capacity, etc. Yieldmanagement can be applied to power transactions on the EnergyNetplatform; then the price rate is based on a scarcity level of power in apower grid network.

Smart contracts are implemented on the blockchain-based EnergyNetplatform. Smart digital contracts are self-executed between differentmarket participants on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform. In oneembodiment, the smart digital contracts in EnergyNet are similar totraditional paper-based power purchase agreements, but their terms arein a standardized form which allows them to be more easily understoodand transferable to other parties (i.e., participants can buy and sellcontracts). Blockchain used within the EnergyNet platform allows bothparties in a smart digital contract to access and visualize howtransactional data (e.g., meter reads) impacts them on a real-timefinancial basis when automatically processed through EnergyNet's rulesengines that enable the function of smart digital contracts within thesystems and methods of the present invention. Smart digital contractsare constructed and established within the platform by related marketparticipants on the EnergyNet platform. Contract terms are added,removed, and/or modified based on agreements between different partiesin the smart digital contract. In another embodiment, smart contract asan application on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform is created asan open contract by a first market participant. An open smart contractautomatically executes itself when a second market participant meets allthe contract terms, and a transaction between the first and secondmarket participants are completed and recorded on the blockchain.

With advanced energy settlements, blockchain is used as a payment point(to or from) in public/hybrid networks, or as an indication to commitpayment using another method (e.g., credit card, ACH) in privatenetworks. In one embodiment, the “wallet” capability in private networksis used to hold energy credits that get translated into real currencyoutside of the blockchain private network. In another embodiment, as apoint of payment, public blockchain networks have currency capabilities,which can be used for payment. The smart digital contracts in thepresent invention provide the transactional amount, party, and timingfor payments, for which EnergyNet participants can use the built-inblockchain currency to pay for those goods. Smart contracts are enforcedon the blockchain.

In one embodiment, cryptocurrency tokens are issued by the EnergyNetplatform to facilitate peer-to-peer transactions between different gridelements. The cryptocurrency tokens on the EnergyNet platform are calledNetwork of Power (NOP) tokens. In the present invention, NOP tokens canbe used to make settlements for consuming, supplying, and/or curtailingpower with micropayments at a grid element level in real time or nearreal time. In one embodiment, the NOP tokens are based on Ethereumtechnology, which is an open source, blockchain-based distributedcomputing platform with smart contracts.

NOP tokens are rewarded to end use customers or market participants whoshare energy related information on the EnergyNet platform. Energyrelated information includes load types (residential, commercial,industrial, mission critical, etc.), consumption amount, consumptionreduced, consumption to be reduced, supply types (solar panels, windturbines, power storage, etc.), power types (real power and/or reactivepower), supply amount, supply available currently, supply to beavailable, capacity, etc. Energy related information is important tomaintain grid stability and reliability in an efficient way within amicrogrid, a distribution grid, and a power grid overall, as well asnecessary to enable peer-to-peer power transactions.

NOP tokens are circulated on the EnergyNet platforms for fulfillingtransactions between different market participants or for sharing ofenergy information between end users or counterparties such as marketparticipants. Other cryptocurrencies (e.g., bitcoins, ethers, etc.) areacceptable on the EnergyNet platform based on requirements of the marketparticipants. In one embodiment, payment methods are specified in smartcontracts. In one embodiment, there is an exchange ratio for convertingfiat currencies and other cryptocurrencies to NOP tokens on theEnergyNet platform. In one embodiment, NOP tokens are used as aninstrument for hedging.

FIG. 106 is a diagram illustrating NOP tokens as an instrument forhedging. Now, power purchaser creates a new contract with a powersupplier for what the power purchaser predicts his/her power needs willbe on a future date. On the day before the future date, the powerpurchaser secures power needs that exactly match what is needed for theday ahead. On the day of the future date, the power purchaser sells theoriginal contract to another purchaser to recover value, either as aloss or a gain in value.

In general, hedging is used to offset the risk of price movements. Withenergy, cyptocurrentcy, etc., the value of a good or service on one daymay not be equivalent to the value at a future date. For example, theprice of a kilowatt hour (kWh) on August 1^(st) is 120 NOP tokens and onAugust 2^(nd) the same kilowatt hour is worth 260 NOP tokens even thoughthe same resource requirements (i.e., the cost) on both days to producethe energy is the same. To enable hedging, there must be twotransactions that have negative correlation with each other (i.e., asthe value of one transaction rises the value of the other transactionsfalls). In this embodiment, a person who is selling an item in thefuture (e.g., generate 10 MW of power on Oct. 31, 2018) enters into acontract to sell (short) 10 MW of power on that future date (or as soonthereafter). A person who is planning to purchase an item in the futureenters into a contract to buy (long) the item in the future. If the kWhprice was 1,000 NOP tokens on Aug. 1, 2018 and the generator wasplanning to sell 10 MW on Oct. 31, 2018, the generator would enter adigital contract to sell 10 MW of power on Nov. 1, 2018 for 1,300 NOPtokens (the market perceives the price of power will be higher in thefuture). That is, on Aug. 1, 2018 the market price is 1,000 NOP tokensper kWh for 10 MW of power and there is someone willing to pay 1,300 NOPtokens per kWh on Nov. 1, 2018 for the same quantity of power. If themarket price rose to 1,100 NOP tokens per kWh on Oct. 31, 2018 and thefuture contract (Nov. 1, 2018) was 1,105 NOP tokens, the generator wouldsell their power on the market and receive 1,100 NOP tokens and would“sell” their contract at a gain of 195 NOP tokens with an overall resultof 1,295 NOP tokens for the generation. If the price were to fall to 600NOP tokens for both the market and future contract, the generator wouldsell his generation for 600 NOP tokens on the market and sell hiscontract for 700 NOP tokens with an overall result of 1,300 NOP tokensfor his generation. The amount of change in the market price versus thefuture contract price (referred to as the basis) determines how well thehedge works to remove price fluctuation risk. In this example above, thebasis is favorable, and the generator does better than the market priceon Aug. 1, 2018 to sell electricity on Oct. 31, 2018. For simplicity,the transactional cost of EnergyNet to provide this market capability isnot included, but that also has to be considered in determining thesuccess of the hedge. Thus, in this embodiment, the EnergyNet platformprovides digital contracts to buy and sell goods or services with NOPtokens in the future at a price determined by market participants whichenables them to hedge to offset price fluctuations.

In one embodiment, peer-to-peer transactions are performed at a gridelement level within a microgrid, and production and consumption can bebalanced out within the microgrid. Transactions are recorded on ablockchain for each microgrid. Each grid element has a copy of thetransaction records. In another embodiment, peer-to-peer transactionsare performed between microgrids in a network of microgrids. Blocks inone microgrid blockchain are aggregated to one block formicrogrid-to-microgrid transaction. This way, a federated blockchain isprovided on the network of microgrids or the macro-grid level based onblockchains for individual microgrids.

In one embodiment, a coordinator or a series of interconnectedcoordinators serve as blockchain nodes. The blockchain nodes serve theblockchain function of error checking and “mining.” The blockchain nodesare also points of transmission of blocks. Coordinators also provideservices including but not limited to currency conversion, financialsettlements, data formatting, protocol arbitration, device discoverywherein the device includes but not limited to grid elements.

In one embodiment, three types of individuals and entities, i.e., powerpurchasers, power merchants, and power brokers, will exchange value onthe blockchain-based EnergyNet platform by proposing, executing on, andsettling energy contracts. A power purchaser is an entity or individualthat needs to purchase power for their own consumption or on behalf ofothers to maintain operations and comfort. A power merchant is an entityor individual that is producing power available for use by powerpurchasers. Power merchants can produce power via a variety oftechnologies. A power broker is an entity or individual responsible forfacilitating new power contract creation, forecasting demand and supplyfutures, and performing market research to develop new offers andservices. All individuals or entities interacting over theblockchain-based EnergyNet platform maintain a public identity andassociated private credentials retained in a blockchain wallet. Valuesfor the individuals or entities are expressed in NOP tokens and accruedto their public identities. Accrued values are publicly visible to allparities via analysis of immutable settlement events recorded on theblockchain. In one embodiment, a single public identity opts for asimple wallet strategy and publishes a type of transaction event by atype of individuals or entities. In another embodiment, a sophisticatedorganization implement a complex wallet strategy that uses many publicidentities to maintain privacy and organize values.

In one embodiment, three types of events, i.e., measurement events,contract events, and settlement events, are recorded on the blockchain.During a measurement event, A set of revenue grade power measurementsand metadata are recorded over an interval of time including observedpower supply and/or power demand. Measurement events are produced byindividuals or entities in combination with a revenue grade measurementdevice. Measurement data is encrypted on the blockchain and is visibleto individuals and entities with a public identity, for example, anowner of physical client devices on the blockchain-based EnergyNetplatform, or an owner of a contract event. During a contract event, acommitment of value is transferred by a public participant in exchangefor performance under certain terms and conditions on measurement fromother public participants. Contract events express the terms andconditions using a protocol that the software and computational walletprocess on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform can understand andprocess. Contract events can be for long-term or short-term servicedelivery. Contract events can result in demand control or supply controlchanges during performance. During a settlement Event, a statement ofvalue is transferred from a public participant who made the commitmentvia contract to one or more other public participants who have deliveredmeasurement services and are verified to have performed within the termsof the contract.

In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform includesphysical client devices with Internet Protocol connectivity, memory,software, and wallet capabilities that interface with revenue gradepower measurement devices such as consumption meters, supply meters,transformer meters, or inverter meters. The blockchain-based EnergyNetplatform also includes a software and computational wallet process as asettlement authority, responsible for connecting measurement events tocontract events, running all the data against a set of rules thatdetermine performance and delivery, and producing settlement events thatreassigns value from the contract to the public identities involved. Thesoftware and computational wallet process also provides connectivity tolegacy payment network or other value exchange networks. Theblockchain-based EnergyNet platform also includes a software walletapplication or wallet portal, as a deal desk, that enables participantsto manage, search, and create new contract events. The software walletapplication or wallet portal also enables extraction, summarization, andvisualization of measurement events associated with those contractevents and settlement events associated with those Contract events.

FIG. 107 is a diagram illustrating a process of a power purchasepublishing measurement events on the blockchain. In one embodiment, apower purchaser has installed physical client devices paired withrevenue grade meters or devices with equivalent capabilities (e.g.,inverters and IoT meters). As the meters measure power, the physicalclient devices encrypt and transmit measurements to a closest networknode for the purpose of publishing public metadata and privatemeasurements to the blockchain. The power purchase can decrypt their ownprivate measurements from the blockchain at any time.

FIG. 108 is a diagram illustrating a power broker creating a request formeasurement information using a smart contract. In one embodiment, a newservice offering is designed or a new distributed generation facility isplanned by a power broker. Measurement data used to create an accuratepower offering is obtained by exchanging NOP tokens. The Power Brokercreates the offer via a smart contract, associates NOP token value tothe new smart contract, and publishes the smart contract onto theblockchain. The Contract metadata solicits measurement data fromspecific Power Purchasers based on public identity or a larger group ofpurchasers based on a public metadata query.

FIG. 109 is a diagram illustrating a power purchaser automaticallyproviding measurement to fulfil a smart contract. In one embodiment, apower purchaser's physical client device detects a smart contract withcriteria matching the measurements the power purchaser has published tothe chain. The power purchaser's physical client device automaticallypublishes measurements when the smart contract contains enough value tomeet a configured threshold. The power broker now has access to anencrypted copy of the measurement information recorded into theBlockchain during a measurement event. A settlement authority on theEnergyNet platform then detects the presence of a measurement event thatmatches a smart contract and clears the transaction with the next blockcreation. A power purchaser can sell multiple copies of the same dataset to multiple power brokers.

FIG. 110 is a diagram illustrating a settlement authority clearingtransactions based on measurements and contracts on the blockchain-basedEnergyNet platform. In one embodiment, a settlement authority on theblockchain-based EnergyNet platform monitors the blockchain for newmeasurements that reference contract events that publicly designate itas the settlement authority. A settlement authority is responsible forreassigning NOP Token value from the contract to the public parties thatit can confirm provided measured services. Each settlement authorityreassigns this value via NOP tokens or other off network paymentmechanisms. Settlement authorities typically retain a portion of the NOPtoken value as a transaction fee. Each settlement authority is requiredto have a computational rules engine capable of processing measurementsby validating, verifying, and estimating any incomplete measurement andprocessing contracts by executing the rules in priority order as percontract terms. The settlement authority is ultimately responsible forexecuting all measurements against the contract terms and producing afinal settlement event that assigns value from the contract to everyparticipating providing measurement services. Each settlement authorityimplementation is unique and selected by the contract owner at will.Settlement authority implementations coordinate with Legacy PaymentNetwork processors like ACH or bridge into alternative currencynetworks. In one embodiment, the settlement authorities are launched bythe blockchain-based EnergyNet platform. In another embodiment,alternative settlement authorities are implemented to provide settlementand clearing services on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform.Settlement authorities are selected by contract owners to be used formanaging the contracts.

FIG. 111 is a diagram illustrating a power merchant controlling supplyoperations to meet contract conditions. In one embodiment, a powermerchant is engaged in a contract to perform power delivery that meetscertain terms and service conditions. The power merchant's physicalclient device controls the power production asset in a manner to deliverpower that meets the contract's performance criteria (Example:discharging battery storage). To prove delivery, the power merchant'sphysical client device automatically publishes measurement informationto the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform network. the measurementinformation is encrypted so that only privileged parties on the contractand the settlement authority can see private measurements. Contractevents are created with enough value in them to pay the entire contract.This method ensures payment at the appropriate time.

As stated earlier, EnergyNet is a distributed platform, which can bewhite-labeled or genericized to operate under the brand of or by manydifferent customers. EnergyNet is functional with most of the existingblockchain implementations, as EnergyNet is be viewed as an“application” from a blockchain perspective. Thus, two EnergyNetcustomers using different blockchain implementations can easily sharecryptography protected information. Thus, the present invention systemsand methods are focused on the functionality provided by the platform,and is not restricted or limited by the various blockchainimplementations.

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to systems andmethods for financial settlement of transactions within an electricpower grid network. A multiplicity of active grid elements areconstructed and configured for electric connection and network-basedcommunication over a blockchain-based platform. Each of the multiplicityof active grid elements comprises a computing component operativelycoupled with a memory. The multiplicity of active grid elements areregistered to actively participate within the electric power gridnetwork. The multiplicity of active grid elements are operable to makepeer-to-peer transactions based on their participation within theelectric power grid by generating and executing a digital contract. Themultiplicity of active grid elements are operable to generate messagesautonomously and/or automatically within a predetermined time interval.The messages comprise energy related data and settlement related data.The energy related data of the multiplicity of active grid elements arebased on measurement and verification. The energy related data and thesettlement related data are validated and recorded on a distributedledger with a time stamp and a geodetic reference. The multiplicity ofactive grid elements are selected from the group consisting of: smartappliances, smart meters, building control systems, sensors, storagedevices, electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, controllers,distribution elements, transmission elements necessary for gridoperations and stability, and any other power consumption and/orgeneration devices. In one embodiment, the predetermined time intervalis less than 15 minutes.

In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in thepresent invention is operable for crowdsourcing renewables. As anexample, but not for limitation, participants buy and sell solar panelsdirectly over the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform. Smart contractsare constructed and executed for crowdsourcing related transactions, andNOP tokens are be used in these crowdsourcing related transactions.Additionally, during the life of the renewable assets, participants canbuy or sell their positions which creates liquidity for participants andopportunity for new participants after the initial renewable isinstalled.

FIG. 112 is a diagram illustrating crowdsourcing renewable energy overthe blockchain-based EnergyNet platform. The blockchain-based EnergyNetplatform discovers and sources projects. Values are held in escrow untila project meets a funding objective. An installer contracts with aproperty owner. Service is not available until energy data is receivedonto the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform. Token investors receivetokens as distributed energy resources (DERs) perform. Token investorscan sell ownership on an open exchange. A developer or installer (1)creates a project contract on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform.The blockchain-based EnergyNet platform (2) reviews the projectcontract, and NOP token holders (3) allocate NOP tokens on theblockchain-based EnergyNet platform. The developer or installer (4)receivers all NOP tokens. The developer or installer can exchange (5)NOP tokens and (6) local currency with a currency exchange. All the NOPtoken are exchanged to (7) local currency to fund projects from thedeveloper or installer. The developer or installer (8) contracts with anowner of property for construction. The owner of property receives (11)NOP tokens or local currency for compensation from the developer orinstaller, meanwhile (12) the owner of property maintains contract withlocal utility provider, for example for allowing export of power forlocal currency compensation. The developer or installer (9) sets upsolar array or other DERs in the property. (10) Energy data fromgeneration and usage from the solar array or other DERs are recorded onthe blockchain-based EnergyNet platform.

In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in thepresent invention is operable for marketing. Energy related informationrecorded on the blockchain is retraceable, and is used for targetedadvertisement. For example, HVAC product providers/contractors on theEnergyNet platform are able to identify low efficient HVAC units andsend advertisement messages to the owners of the low efficient HVACunits, thereby having a better target. Meanwhile, advertisement messagesincluding content information, sender information, and receiverinformation are recorded on the blockchain, which is auditable andverifiable, thereby eliminating frauds. For example, digital contractscan execute payments to brokers or recipients by advertisers based onthe recipient receiving the information. Additional payments can be madebased on recipient's action on that information (e.g., requesting moreinformation, or purchasing a good or service).

FIG. 113 is a diagram illustrating advertising over the blockchain-basedEnergyNet platform. A smart contract is used to secure the escrowedpayment of NOP tokens to advertisers and viewers of advertisement. Theblockchain-based EnergyNet platform provides verified receipt andexecution (i.e., view, take actions) of ad contract. An advertisementplacing entity (1) creates a contract in NOP tokens for placingadvertisement; and (2) escrow NOP tokens over the blockchain-basedEnergyNet platform. an advertising agency (3) accepts the contract and(4) produces the advertisement based on the contract. An advertisementreceipt (5) reviews the advertisement and (6) acknowledges receipt ofthe advertisement. The advertising placing entity (7) receives viewreceipt; the advertising agency (8) receives NOP tokens; and theadvertisement recipient also (9) receives NOP tokens. The advertisementplacing entity then (10) updates its wallet for payment.

In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in thepresent invention is operable to provide a rating system, where theratings are verifiable and cannot be faked. For example, smart applianceowners provide ratings for their appliances based on applianceperformance data, which is recorded on the blockchain. These ratings aretrustable as the performance data are retrievable and verifiable. Theseratings provide valuable reference for potential buyers.

In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in thepresent invention is operable for multi-level marketing anddistribution. Traditional intermediaries, such as Homeowner'sAssociation (HOAs), brokers, Retail Energy Providers (REPs), becomemarket participants on the EnergyNet platform providing services todifferent customers. For example, a digital contract is constructed whena homeowner adds renewable energy generation to their home (e.g.,photovoltaic array), the HOA gets a percentage (e.g., 2%) of the sale ofexcess power back to the grid.

In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in thepresent invention is operable for secure peer-to-peer messaging. A useris able to create his own rules for message reception, for example, whattypes of messages the user wants or does not want to receive; and rulesfor sending messages, for example, if the messages are cryptographicallysecured or public. This capability enables users to manage their sharingof information from a single message to the entirety of theircommunication.

FIG. 114 is a diagram illustrating messaging over the blockchain-basedEnergyNet platform. The present invention enables a user with a deviceto send a private message to one other user or many other users via theblockchain-based EnergyNet platform. The only parties that are able toview the messages are the intended recipients who hold the private keyto their public identities. Messages can carry any payload, similar toemail MIME encoding headers. The cost of the messages in NOP tokens isproportional to the size, similar to adding more postage to a largepackage. Messages can be any form of digital contract, for example,personal texts, subscription news or software, video or multimedia.

In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in thepresent invention includes Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms. Forexample, but not for limitation, trading bots (i.e., digital robots) arecreated on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform to facilitateautomatic peer-to-peer trading.

In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in thepresent invention is also operable to host third-party applications,such as data warehousing, renewable energy credits, bill payments,shopping carts for energy parts, forecasting (e.g., prices, supply anddemand), etc.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled inthe art upon a reading of the foregoing description. By way of example,communications alternatives will be understood to be covered under thepresent invention. As an example but not limitation, 5G communicationmay be used for messaging in the systems and methods of advanced energysettlements in an electric power grid in the present invention. Theabove-mentioned examples are provided to serve the purpose of clarifyingthe aspects of the invention and it will be apparent to one skilled inthe art that they do not serve to limit the scope of the invention. Allmodifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake ofconciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for financial settlement of transactionswithin an electric power grid network, comprising: a multiplicity ofactive grid elements constructed and configured for electric connectionand network-based communication over a blockchain-based platform, and atleast one distributed computing device in network communication with themultiplicity of active grid elements; at least one servercommunicatively connected to the electric power grid network configuredto control the participation of the multiplicity of active grid elementsin the electric power grid network based on predictive energyconsumption data for the multiplicity of active grid elements; whereinthe multiplicity of active grid elements are registered to activelyparticipate within the electric power grid network; wherein themultiplicity of active grid elements are operable to make peer-to-peertransactions based on their participation within the electric power gridby executing a digital contract; wherein the multiplicity of active gridelements are operable to generate messages that comprise energy relateddata based on measurement and verification; wherein the measurement andverification comply with standards defined by an operator; wherein thedata packets are stored and coded into blocks on a blockchain on a node,each block including a timestamp and a geodetic reference for each datapacket denoting when and where the data packet is generated; wherein thedata packet includes energy related data associated with correspondinggrid elements and their intended active functioning within the electricpower grid; wherein a smart contract is generated between marketparticipants; and wherein the smart contract automatically executes whenmarket participants meet all the contract terms. and a transactionbetween a first and second market participant are completed and recordedon the blockchain.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the messagesfurther comprise a priority, a security, and a transport route for thenetwork-based communication.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein thepriority is based upon factors associated with the electric power gridfollowing a hierarchy of priority including grid reliability factors,grid stability factors, energy market-based factors, billingdeterminants, energy settlement factors, financial settlement factors,and transmission factors.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the energyrelated data comprises raw data, transformed data, status, change instate, and a unique grid element identifier.
 5. The system of claim 4,wherein the raw data corresponds to active participation of themultiplicity of active grid elements in the electric power grid network.6. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy related data comprisespayor, payee, transaction amount, transaction time, transaction method,contract term, rate, and capacity.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein themultiplicity of active grid elements are further operable to modify thedigital contract.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity ofactive grid elements are operable to maintain the distributed ledger,and wherein each of the multiplicity of active grid elements stores acopy of the distributed ledger.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein themeasurement and verification is provided by a smart meter or sub-meter.10. The system of claim 1, wherein the participation comprises consumingelectric power, producing electric power, and curtailing powerconsumption.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity ofactive grid elements includes at least one device selected from thegroup consisting of: smart appliances, smart meters, building controlsystems, sensors, storage devices, electric vehicles, wind turbines,solar panels, controllers, distribution elements, transmission elementsnecessary for grid operations and stability, and any other powerconsumption and/or generation devices.
 12. The system of claim 1,wherein the messages further comprise attachment point information ofthe multiplicity of active grid elements to the electric power gridnetwork.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the blockchain-basedplatform is operable to issue proprietary cryptocurrency tokens.
 14. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the multiplicity of active grid elements arerewarded with the proprietary cryptocurrency tokens by sharing energyrelated data, wherein the proprietary cryptocurrency tokens are operableto be used to make settlements for consuming, supplying, and curtailingpower with micropayments at the grid level in real time or near realtime.
 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy related data arecryptographically secured.
 16. A method for financial settlement oftransactions within an electric power grid network, comprising:providing a multiplicity of active grid elements constructed andconfigured for electric connection and network-based communication overa blockchain-based platform, and at least one distributed computingdevice in network communication with the multiplicity of active gridelements; providing at least one server communicatively connected to theelectric power grid network configured to control the participation ofthe multiplicity of active grid elements in the electric power gridnetwork based on predictive energy consumption data for the multiplicityof active grid elements; the multiplicity of active grid elementsregistering with the electric power grid network for activelyparticipating within the electric power grid network; at least oneactive grid element generating and executing a digital contract for atleast one transaction with at least one peer active grid element; the atleast one active grid element and the at least one peer active gridelement generating messages that comprise energy related data, andwherein the energy related data are based on measurement andverification; and validating and recording the energy related data on adistributed ledger with a time stamp and a geodetic reference; whereinthe data packets are stored and coded into blocks on a blockchain on anode, each block including a timestamp and a geodetic reference for eachdata packet denoting when and where the data packet is generated; thedata packet includes energy related data associated with correspondinggrid elements and their intended active functioning within the electricpower grid; wherein a smart contract is generated between marketparticipants; and wherein the smart contract automatically executesitself when market participants meet all the contract terms. and atransaction between a first and second market participant are completedand recorded on the blockchain.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein theenergy related data comprises raw data, transformed data, status, changein state, and a unique grid element identifier.
 18. The method of claim16, wherein the energy related data comprises payor, payee, transactionamount, transaction time, transaction method, contract term, rate, andcapacity.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising theblockchain-based platform issuing proprietary cryptocurrency tokens. 20.The method of claim 19, further comprising the at least one active gridelement and the at least one peer active grid element earning theproprietary cryptocurrency tokens by sharing the energy related data,wherein the proprietary cryptocurrency tokens are operable to be used tomake settlements for consuming, supplying, and curtailing power withmicropayments at the grid level in real time or near real time.